Rattana Theanvisitsakool, deputy director-general of the Business Development Department, said the department and the Franchise Licence Association (FLA) planned to help franchise business operators penetrate 11 foreign markets this year.

Nine of the markets are in the Asean Economic Community, and the other two are China and Japan. The food, beauty and education sectors are attractive targets in foreign markets.

The department aims to see 30 franchise operators expand overseas this year. At present, 22 Thai franchisers are engaged in business abroad.

Thailand’s franchise market is worth Bt280 billion. Half of that is in food, beverage and bakery franchises on expectation of high annual growth rates. “Asean countries now are interested in Thai franchise businesses. Laos is interested in food and beverages and the Philippines in food and beauty. Soon, 25 Thai franchise operators will be led to penetrate markets in Myanmar,” Rattana said.

The department yesterday joined a signing ceremony for a three-year franchise contract between Thailand’s N & B Pizza Crepe Co and Laos’ Friendship Trading. Friendship Trading will open five branches within three years in Laos.

“N & B Pizza Crepe is the 23rd franchise operator to expand overseas,” she said. Of the 22 Thai franchise operators already doing business in 38 foreign countries, 11 are in food and beverages, five in retail, three in education, two in beauty and spas, and one in a service enterprise. The department is collaborating with the FLA and other partners to search for new markets for Thai franchisers. As of January 31, there were a total of 1,509 Thai franchise operators. Of that total, 1,220 were juristic persons and 289 were ordinary persons. All told, 757 were in retail, 425 in food and beverages, 350 were services, 84 were educational enterprises and 75 were in the beauty and spa industry.