Kuala lumpur: A total of 71 foreign food and beverage (F and B) franchisors were registered to operate in Malaysia as of December 31, 2025, representing 42 percent of the 170 F and B franchisors on the national register, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a written parliamentary reply published on Parliament's website, the ministry acknowledged the challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in the franchise sector, due to the entry of international companies offering lower-priced food and beverage products backed by scale and global supply chains.
The ministry emphasized that KUSKOP ensures only foreign franchisor applications that are genuinely qualified and capable of contributing to the national economy are approved for registration. This assurance was reiterated in response to a query from Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas) about the government's strategies to protect local economic players, especially domestic MSMEs, from the intense competition posed by international firms.
In addition, KUSKOP highlighted its agencies' efforts to expand market access for MSME products through various programs. These include live-streaming initiatives and free studio facilities resulting from collaborations between TEKUN Nasional and TikTok Shop. The initiatives are designed to increase entrepreneurs' sales value, alongside Pernas's MyMall platform, which offers free online marketing space for MSME products and services.