Under Secretary of Commerce For International Trade Francisco SÁnchez
Partnerships for Competitiveness: Franchising the Americas Competitiveness Forum
November 14, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia
As prepared for delivery
The U.S. and Brazil are the leading franchising economies in the Western Hemisphere. Franchising is a business model that covers multiple industries and promotes economic integration.
The U.S. Government, the Brazilian Government, the International Franchise Association and the Associação Brasileira de Franchising are working together on a multiple phase strategy to a) introduce franchisors to the partner market, b) identify challenges to competitiveness, c) facilitate market access and d) increase trade in services, investment, and jobs.
This work will increase trade in services for both the U.S. and Brazil, increase investment, create jobs, and potentially develop a successful franchising market entry model for the Western Hemisphere to adopt. The Services chapter in the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue has made some significant progress through the franchising industry.
Over the next year there will be several events that highlight the work of industry with our governments. We anticipate sharing our success at the ACF next year. A multi-phase program has been jointly designed by the public and private franchising sectors in order to increase trade, job creation, and investment.
Over the next year there will be an information phase with webinars and seminars on financing the exports, the legal aspects of market entry, and IPR registration. A recruitment phase will identify approximately ten franchisors from each market to expand into the other market. A market entry phase will capture successes and challenges.
A resolution phase will identify bottlenecks; and a promotion phase will highlight the market and the lessons learned for other franchisors to take similar steps, as well as for other economies to replicate.
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