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`To learn about the market; explore cash & carry biz'

CHECKING OUT INDIAN RETAIL: Mr Mike Duke, Vice-Chairman, Wal-Mart, and Mr Rajan Mittal, Joint Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises, visiting a mall in Mumbai on Thursday. Wal-Mart and Bharti plan a joint venture for cash-and-carry in the retail sector. — Shashi Ashiwal

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Mumbai Feb. 22 In his first whirlwind trip to India after the tie up with the Bharti Group, the Vice-Chairman of Wal-Mart, Mr Michael Duke, went around retail stores and malls in Mumbai. He visited the In Orbit Mall and the Tatas-owned Croma store in Malad today. ``It is great to be here and there is a lot we can learn from the country and the stores here. At the moment we are just visiting, learning and looking around. It is a wonderful city,'' Mr Duke told reporters who were with him while he was at the In orbit Mall in Malad.

Mr Duke visited stores such as Shoppers' Stop, Hypercity and Spencer's Retail within the mall.

A Wal-Mart spokesperson said, "In order to learn more about the market first-hand and to further explore the wholesale cash-and-carry business, Mr Mike Duke is visiting India. This is a routine business visit. No business announcement regarding our specific plans will be made during this visit." The spokesperson said that Wal-Mart's business arrangements with Bharti for wholesale cash-and-carry were still being discussed. "We look forward to partnering with them to build backward linkages with farmers and suppliers through a robust and efficient supply chain," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the retail giant was conducting business studies concerning the feasibility of investing in establishing backward linkages with suppliers and farmers.

Sending out a message that small businesses do not have to fear Wal-Mart, the spokesperson said that a cash-and-carry wholesale operation also has the potential to provide much-needed support to small business owners and retailers by selling them quality merchandise at competitive prices.

More Stories on : People | Retailing | Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd

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