Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 May 2025 (SATURDAY) - Malaysian franchisors achieved significant success at the Franchise In-Buying Mission (FIBM) held in conjunction with the 32nd International Franchise Exhibition and Convention (FIM 2025), securing potential export sales worth RM77 million.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) and the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA), spearheaded the event as part of a strategic effort to elevate Malaysia’s franchise industry globally. This event marked a major leap forward in Malaysia’s push to globalise its franchise industry, further strengthening Malaysia's dynamic franchise ecosystem.

FIBM 2025 welcomed the participation of 15 foreign buyers comprising 23 representatives from countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The mission facilitated a focused and productive environment through more than 90 one-to-one business meetings with Malaysian franchisors actively exploring global expansion opportunities.

Madam Jamaliah Jamaludin, Director of the Construction and Business Services Section at MATRADE, stated that these strong results signify the growing competitiveness and export readiness of Malaysian franchisors in the global marketplace. 

“This progress offers Malaysian companies broader opportunities to access international markets and strengthen their presence abroad. In navigating the evolving global trade landscape, particularly amidst ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, MATRADE continues to adopt a proactive approach by exploring new and emerging markets, especially in developing economies that have demonstrated promising growth in recent years,” she said in a statement.

Supporting the comment, she added, “The partnership between Malaysian franchisors and foreign franchisees will further boost economic growth as well as provide job opportunities”. This initiative directly supports the Dasar Francais Negara (DFN) 2030, championed by MEDAC, which aims to accelerate the internationalisation of Malaysian franchisors. The event has generated significant potential export sales, further underpinning Malaysia's dynamic franchise ecosystem.

Foreign buyers also responded positively to the event. Mr. Zaw Lin Cho, Director of Rio International Co., Ltd, Myanmar remarked, "The meeting arrangements by MATRADE allowed us to connect with the right Malaysian franchisors. We are very satisfied with how the sessions were conducted."

This edition of FIBM also saw the participation of youth-led companies and emerging brands seeking to explore export markets, such as Happy Potatoes and Kow Hock (KH) Hardware. Among the iconic Malaysian brands that took part in the event were Cleanpro, Genius Aulad, Richiamo, Marrybrown, Kenny Rogers, Little Caliphs, Sangkaya and many others, highlighting Malaysia’s growing presence in the global franchise landscape.

MATRADE remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering Malaysian companies in their export endeavours, with FIBM 2025 serving as a significant catalyst in propelling the internationalisation agenda outlined in DFN 2030 and fostering the global growth of Malaysia’s franchise sector. Through MATRADE’s global network of 49 overseas trade offices, it aims to assist Malaysian businesses in expanding their global footprint by establishing franchise partnerships with potential foreign franchisees.

The 32nd edition of Franchise International Malaysia (FIM) Exhibition & Conference is the premier annual franchise event, officially organised in  a collaboration between the MFA and MEDAC. Notably, FIM holds the distinction of being the sole franchise exhibition sanctioned by both the World Franchise Council (WFC) and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC).