Franchise Istanbul Expo, organized in cooperation with TÜYAP, was held at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center as the 33rd organization of UFRAD Franchising Association. Investors and franchise associations from more than 60 countries, especially Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, showed great interest in the fair.
The opening speech was given by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın, President of UFRAD, and it was emphasized that a strong ecosystem is being built that plays an important role in opening Turkey and its brands to the world markets. It was also stated that the franchising sector is a dynamic structure that not only grows companies but also strengthens the national economy and creates employment.
It was emphasized that the franchise sector has reached a size of 55 billion dollars and this figure is expected to exceed 70 billion dollars by 2025. While it was stated that the number of chain businesses in Turkey exceeded 3,700 and the number of branches linked to these businesses exceeded 66,000, it was pointed out that the number of Turkish brands operating abroad exceeded 400. It was highlighted that this data revealed the competitiveness of brands in international markets and Turkey’s role in global trade.
It was stated that Franchise Istanbul Expo is not only a fair, but also a transformation point for the sector. Within the scope of the organization, new investment opportunities, establishing international partnerships and strengthening Turkey’s entrepreneurship ecosystem were emphasized.
It was emphasized that in order for Turkish brands to remain strong in the global competitive environment, it has become inevitable to adopt a global perspective instead of thinking locally. It was stated that every brand should aim to open up to international markets and develop strategies to increase its competitiveness.
Since 1991, UFRAD Franchising Association, which has been working for the development of the franchise system, will continue to guide the sector with more than 200 members and these efforts to strengthen the franchising ecosystem will make significant contributions to Turkey’s economic growth and global success in the field of entrepreneurship.
