US$9 MLN FRANCHISING, RETAIL BUSINESS IDENTIFIED IN CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- A recent Malaysian delegation to Cambodia
and Vietnam has identified RM28.1 million (about US$9 million) worth of
franchising and retail business opportunities in the two countries.

In Cambodia, joint-ventures opportunities were earmarked in retail
businesses and franchising for beauty products, body care training centres,
education, food and beverage products as well as the distribution of food
products, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said in a
statement Thursday.

It said franchise business in body care training centres, food and beverage
products, English language education, joint ventures in retail outlets for shoes
and handbags as well as the distribution of food products were identified in
Vietnam.

MATRADE led a Specialised Marketing Mission on Franchising and Retail
Business to Cambodia and Vietnam between Oct 31 and Nov 6, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Malaysia
Franchise Association and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd.

A total of 25 representatives from 12 companies, government agencies and
associations were in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City to promote Malaysian
franchise and retail businesses.

The statement said this was the first mission to promote franchise business
to Cambodia and the second to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's 86 million consumers and rapid economic growth has
seen growing demand for fast and convenient Western lifestyles.

This is evident by the annual retail sales growth of 23.3 per cent in 2007,
31 per cent in 2008 and 18.6 per cent in 2009 based on figures from Vietnam's
General Department of Statistics.
-- BERNAMA