The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SCCI, today (Tuesday) organized, in collaboration with the Emirates Association for Franchise Development (FAD) and Tijarah 101 Center, a workshop entitled: “Franchise Industry from Locality to Universality”

The event comes as part of the SCCI’s efforts to bolster the business sector, help the Emirate’s private sector and entrepreneurs protect their businesses, and introduce them to the best practices in the franchise industry.

Held at the SCCI headquarters, the workshop was moderated by HE Mohammed Al Madani, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Emirates Franchise Development Association.

Present at the event were Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant General Director, Support Services Sector of the SCCI, Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of Economic Relations and Marketing at the SCCI, and Mona Omran Ali, Director of Tijarah 101 Centre at SCCI, and Mohammed Al Madani.

The workshop focused on explaining the franchise concept, its importance, and its advantages for companies. Also, the participants learned more about the legal aspects and franchise-related contract types, in addition to its organizational structure and the relationship between the grantor and grantee in the franchise industry.

Raising Awareness about the Franchise Industry

Maryam Al Shamsi said: “Organizing this workshop emphasizes the SCCI’s keenness on supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs business owners and highlighting relevant development to concepts and mechanisms of franchising and how to take appropriate steps to deal with them.”

“The workshop also aims to introduce entrepreneurs to the steps enabling them to start their businesses, and its role in raising awareness in the field of franchising, both for the brand owner or for the beneficiary in view of the development witnessed by the UAE, which enjoys an outstanding position in attracting the right of franchising,” added Al Shamsi.

Concluding her remarks, Al Shamsi said that the SCCI has been keen, since its inception, to play a key and effective role in bolstering the SME through a number of programs and initiatives, including Tijarah 101 Center, stressing that the Chamber will not hesitate to launch innovative initiatives with the aim of enhancing entrepreneurial sector and catering to the needs of young people who are eagerly looking to manage projects with regional and international brand.

Accelerating Growth Pace

A presentation on the development phases of brands was delivered by Mohammed Al Madani, outlining how adopting franchise standards has helped accelerate the growth of these brands.

Al Madani explained in details the conditions for obtaining a typical initial franchise, market-forecasting metrics and what is direct franchising and who can be a main franchisee. He also shed light on how to regulate international relations in Franchise and highlighted some key factors for a franchise success, including a strong local foundation with robust economies and a proven track record of achievements.

A Perfect Opportunity

For her part, Mona Omran Ali said: “The Center, supported by the SCCI, relies through its future plans on organizing a number of programs and training courses to reinforce entrepreneurs’ experiences and guide them to the best economic activities, in addition to engaging them in specialized exhibitions and promoting various brands.”

She added that the workshop was a perfect opportunity for acquainting entrepreneurs with how to draft successful franchising agreements and clarifying all the essential elements of the franchise rights to enhance the awareness of trainees of their rights and duties.

Additionally, the attendees were briefed on the mechanisms and steps to obtain Franchise projects, while emphasizing the need to penetrate this vital sector, which is the fastest way for the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Several questions were presented by the participants on how to take advantage of franchising in their business ventures.

The workshop was rounded off by Al Shamsi honoring Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Emirates Franchise Development Association, in recognition of his efforts to the workshop and promote franchise awareness.