BERA, March 25 (Bernama) -- Small-and-medium entrepreneurs should venture into the thriving franchise industry which has the potential to generate good returns.

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said the government always supported potential franchise entrepreneurs and provided micro franchise funding obtainable from Perbadanan Nasional Bhd.

"The government has allocated RM8 million under the fund and todate only RM2 million has been disbursed.

"Via the franchise business, they will have a wider reach and even penetrate international markets and many less known products can be commercialised," he told reporters after opening the Marrybrown outlet here.

Elaborating further, Ismail Sabri said the government would continue to mount roadshows to expose budding entrepreneurs to the world of franchising.

"We need to change the peoples' perception that the franchise business is not only confined to the food industry or to cash-rich entrepreneurs.

"This is because via the micro franchise credit, they can venture into any kind of franchise business with a minimum capital outlay of about RM50,000. They also need not have wide business experience," he said.

Ismail said approximately 30 franchisors of home-grown brands have penetrated markets in about 50 countries worldwide.

He added that the government targeted a revenue of about RM58.58 billion from the franchise industry by 2020.

-- BERNAMA