Mission Description:

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Export Promotion Services’ Matchmaker Program, in cooperation with the International Franchising Association, is organizing a Franchising Trade Delegation to Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne and Sydney, Australia March 18-23, 2001. The Matchmaker will focus on locating master franchises and area developers in these markets. Sam Dhir, Matchmaker Project Manager, will lead the delegation.

The Australian franchise sector is both large and mature. Australia is one of the most franchised countries in the world with more franchising outlets per capita than any country in the world. In 1988, there were 184 business format franchised companies in Australia. Today there are approximately 708. Franchising is experiencing continuing dynamic growth in Australia and has spread into virtually every area of commercial activity. High growth is being experienced in activities as diverse as home building, carpet cleaning, repair systems, waste management and financial planning. Household and food services have emerged as the two fastest growing areas of domestic spending and a key area for business growth. The total turnover of the franchising sector in Australia for FY2000 was US $50.55 billion, with many of the largest and most successful chains having U.S. origins.

The franchise sector represents a relatively new area in New Zealand’s economy. The sector is emerging as an increasingly important way to do business in New Zealand. According to recent estimates, there are 400 franchises and over 4,000 franchisees in New Zealand. Most of this growth is concentrated in retail and services sectors. The recent development of a franchise sector in New Zealand presents American companies with a host of opportunities. U.S. companies like McDonald’s have had a great deal of success in franchising in New Zealand, which represents its fourth largest franchise location per capita—following only the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The mission goal is to help new-to-market U.S. franchisers explore the potential for franchising in these countries and meet with qualified investors/entrepreneurs interested in entering into a master franchise or area developer agreement for a specified region.

Participants will spend two days in Auckland, New Zealand, one day in Melbourne, Australia and two days in Sydney, Australia. In Sydney participants will have an opportunity to tour the Sydney Franchise Expo, a premier event in the region, which takes place March 23-25. Participants, wishing to exhibit at the Expo will be given a special discount booth rate. At each stop the Commercial Service will provide an extensive market briefing, highlighting opportunities in the franchising market and recent policy developments, schedule one-on-one appointments for each participant with potential investors/entrepreneurs interested in franchising, and arrange a reception to introduce the participants to key business and government officials in each country. The precise schedule will depend on the availability of local government and business officials as well as the specific goals of mission participants.

Sunday, March 18 Arrive in Auckland, New Zealand

Monday, March 19 Business Meetings

Tuesday, March 20 Business Meetings, Evening flight to Melbourne, Australia

Wednesday, March 21 Business Meetings in Melbourne, Evening flight to Sydney

Thursday, March 22 Business Meetings in Sydney

Friday, March 23 Business Meetings, Tour of Sydney Franchise Expo,

Conclusion

The Matchmaker will be promoted through, but not limited to, the following venues: Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers and Teams, relevant trade publications, the International Franchise Association and other relevant trade associations, various in-house and purchased industry lists, and Export America. The Matchmaker also will be listed on ITA’s and IFA’s Internet home page, and in the Federal Register.

Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on Friday, January 26, 2001. The Matchmaker will target 15 companies.

The participation fee for the event will be $3,600 per company.

• Relevance of the company’s business line to the mission goals;
• Potential for business in the selected markets;
• Timeliness of the company’s completed participation application and payment of the mission participation fee;
• Provision of adequate information on the company’s products and/or services and communication of the company’s primary objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners;

• Certification that the company meets Departmental guidelines for participation, including certification that the company’s products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the products/services must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least fifty-one percent of the value of the finished goods or services.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Sam Dhir, Project Officer

Matchmaker Trade Delegation Program

U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2012

Washington, D.C. 20230

Tel: (202) 482-4756/Fax: (202) 482-0178

Email: Sam.Dhir@mail.doc.gov