We, the members of the World Franchise Council, representing various national franchise associations, have gathered in Manila, Philippines on 25 to 26 Oct 2023 for the biannual meeting of the said council during Franchise Asia Philippines  2023,

Concerned  with the persistent economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and dire consequences of climate change that continue to afflict countless individuals across the globe,

Acknowledging the urgent need for an economic mechanism that can generate employment opportunities and secure livelihoods for those most severely impacted by the prevailing challenges,

Noting that franchising, with its inherent potential for enterprise creation and job generation, possesses the capability to provide more sustainable employment and pave the way for a prosperous future for countless individuals worldwide,

Emphasizing the indispensable role of franchising in the development and advancement of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the promotion of home-based businesses, and the empowerment of men and women thanks to the transfer of know how and training provided by the franchisors

Recognizing the importance of robust public-private partnerships and collaborative efforts to cultivate social and economic growth within our global community,

Mindful of the disruptions and challenges faced by businesses in an ever-evolving world,

Confident in the capacity of the World Franchise Council as the preeminent global voice of franchising,

Hereby declare that,

  1. Franchising, as an established and proven business model, continues to possess the potential to create numerous enterprises and generate millions of jobs across continents,
  2. In times of uncertainty and disruption, franchising with its inherent structure, mentorship and support mechanisms, proves to be a disruption-resilient business model that can better weather economic, technological, or other disruptions effectively,
  3. In light of the indispensable role played by MSMEs and the acknowledged contribution of franchising to their development, governments across the globe must recognize the imperative of fostering an ecosystem conducive to the growth and advancement of the franchising sector
  4. We call on governments to foster a culture of cooperation and collaboration between the franchise sector and policy makers and exercise restraint in creating regulations detrimental to the franchise sectors across the globe.
  5. We encourage financial institutions to create financial instruments that will support the growth and expansion of franchisors and franchisees.
  6. We also appeal for policies and programs that will promote the growth of the franchise industry and allow it to continue to be a tool for economic and social development among the different peoples and cultures across the globe.

WE DECLARE OUR FULL COMMITMENT to contribute to these goals and to cooperate with each other and all relevant stakeholders—including governments, financial institutions, business organizations, funding agencies, academia and individuals—with the intent to carry this declaration toward providing help in providing solution to the lingering global economic malaise and toward providing a sustainable means in ensuring economic vitality and job creation throughout the world.

WFC Delegates, Manila, Philippines