Today at Park Inn hotel the first seminar on a theme "Basics of franchising" has begun work in Baku. The organizer of the event is Azerbaijan Franchise Association (AFA).
As the chairman of the board of the AFA Elshan Musaev has informed, the purpose of holding the seminar consists in providing an useful information to representatives of business-circles and the wide public elements of franchising itself.
"Unfortunately, despite their obvious advantages franchising systems haven't got the proper development in Azerbaijan. Therefore, AFA decided to hold a seminar in Baku. We are ready to render to the local companies all kind of support in creation of franchising systems at any level with the attraction of foreign experts", - E. Musayev told.
So-called "franchising shop" was also presented at the seminar - heads of the companies taking part at event can buy franchising, the license for Azerbaijan from the successful and well developing companies.
Seminar is held by the director general of Greece Franchise Association Sotiris Yanakakis and board member of the European Franchise Federation and German Franchise Association Rolf Gerhard Kirst.
So, we would like to
bring into your attention some feedback of the participants and provide our answers to the questions they were interested in.
Alum Bati
- What new did you learn here?
- Franchise concepts
- What info are you interested in?
Q: How to choose a franchise?
A: First of all, interested people should determine which type of franchise they need, which franchise concept can be successful for them.
- Organization.

On 19th of June 2009 at Park Inn Hotel Azerbaijan Franchise Association is going to organize first franchise seminar in Azerbaijan. The scope of the seminar is to introduce the attendees to all basic concepts of franchising. This seminar introduces participants to franchising as a means of distribution of goods and services and applies theoretical frameworks to franchising contractual relationships. The business relationship of franchisee and franchisor is also explored in terms of stages of development of the franchising life-cycle.
This seminar aims to equip participants with a basic understanding of franchise operations via a combination of theoretical explanations of franchising and practical applications of franchising structure and management issues. Upon completion of this seminar the participant should understand the stages of business development required for franchise initiation and operation.
There will be following themes on the agenda of the seminar: types of franchising, characteristics of franchising, advantages and disadvantages of franchising, economy benefits of franchising; Franchise fee structures- initial franchise fees, ongoing franchise fees, marketing levies, renewal fees, Overview of franchising legal issues- explanation of legal terms in franchising, comparison of the regulatory regime in your country with other countries, Franchising Code of Conduct, Role of the franchise contract, Trade Practices considerations, Legal issues including intellectual property rights, trade marks and copyright, franchise agreements, goodwill, unconscionable conduct, and franchise agreement renewals, transfers and terminations.

The Greek capital has hosted an Azerbaijan-Greece business forum on February 17. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Greek leader Karolos Papoulias and Premier Kostas Karamanlis attended the opening ceremony.
Co-organized by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation and Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event brought together representatives of over 100 Greek and about 20 Azerbaijani companies.