Lisbon, Portugal, 08 Sept – Janela Digital, a subsidiary of Portugal Telecom for the information technology sector, is studying the possibility of entering Portuguese-speaking countries using a franchising system, Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Negócios reported.

Janela Digital, which specializes in management software for real estate is currently analyzing the best model for expanding to Brazil and Africa.

“One of the models for Portuguese-speaking African countries, South Africa and Brazil si franchising,” the company’s expansion director, João Capucho told the paper.

In a remote way the company will provide assistance to a business that will be controlled locally by the master franchisee, Capucho said.

“In September or October we should have the result of the negotiations,” Capucho said, adding that, by the end of the year, the company that is 50 percent owned by PT expects to have closed the deal on two master franchises.

Janela Digital, which this year expects turnover of 3 million euros, is also present in Spain, where turnover should total some 300,000 euros.

Janela Digital hopes to have 20 percent of its turnover from international operations in 2007. (macauhub)