The US retail giant Walmart is likely to open its next store in Ludhiana, Punjab by 2017, as it had stepped in the Indian Market and continuing its further expansion. The next cash and carry outlet will be landing down to Punjab only by 2017.
The company has planned to open 50 wholesale stores in India in the coming 4-5 years. After opening down its 21st store in India in August after a gap of over two years at Agra, the wide expansion of the coming outlets is lined up.
Walmart India President & CEO Krish Iyer told “We are working on several (sites) right now. We have signed quite a few properties. I do expect the next one will be in Ludhiana in Punjab.” He also added on the upcoming projects “Currently we are in the process of working out single window clearance with the Punjab government. When all that goes through all that take two years…around the first half of 2017.”
The partnership that took place between Bharti Airtel and Walmart also went on bitter break when the six year partnership was called off in 2013. Afterwards, the giant decided to operate independently in India.
Iyer also said “I do expect a little bit of head start in Punjab”. Walmart that further put a stop in its expansions after 2012 when it was investigated violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act at its Indian arm.
