Lebanese Franchises and consumption style spread in 45 countries across the globe and soon in Africa

Al-Nahar newspaper published a new report about the franchise sector in Lebanon which exports trademarks and marketing concepts and style from different sectors notably restaurants, bakeries, jewelry, and fashion to some 45 countries worldwide.  The franchise industry, both import and export, constitutes some 4% of the total GDP and provides 99,000 work opportunities and a turnover of some USD 1.5 billion in addition to the fact that Lebanon operates some 1100 single franchise concept in more than 5500 selling points.
The report included an interview with the president of the Lebanese Franchise Association (LTA), Charles 3arbid, who spoke about the decline of the economy and noted that internal consumption regressed by 20% since the beginning of the year especially in the retail sector, while the industrial exports declined by 17% during the past six months.  He added that since the Franchise sector depends mostly on export, it has the ability to compensate these losses.  He also noted that LTA is planning to open new horizons for Lebanese Franchises in African countries given the presence of a large Lebanese Diaspora.  3arbid spoke about the problems facing this sector highlighting those related to protection of intellectual property, and assuring that the association is in constant communication with the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Ministry's Director General in order to create the necessary legal protective environment for the sector.  In conclusion, 3arbid said that the association will soon be launching an initiative to develop the work of the sector in traditional markets in collaboration with Municipalities as well as the Association of Beirut Merchants and local authorities, which will include the old souks of Tripoli, Byblos, Saida and Beirut.
Source: Al-Nahar 31 October 2014

For more information on the Franchise sector in Lebanon, please refer to the following news, published previously on the WEEPortal:
The franchise dining sector flees Lebanon and expands into the GCC, on 23/10/2014
Franchising represents 4% of Lebanon’s GDP while EU official calls for domestic protective measures, on 10/4/2014