Logistics, sourcing, and retail are on the agenda for Wal-Mart as it sets its sights on more southern Chinese growth.
Wal-Mart signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with the southern Chinese municipal government of Dongguan to build eight new stores and a logistics distribution center that will cover the entire South China region in the city.
The two parties will work closely in business investment, localized procurement, food safety, and energy saving. Wal-Mart hopes to launch more stores, enhance logistics distribution and green supply chain construction, and create over 3,000 new jobs in Dongguan over the next five years.
Wal-Mart entered the city in Guangdong in 1997 and the retailer has invested and launched 13 stores in the city, creating nearly 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. In December 2015, Wal-Mart's online shopping app also reached the 13 stores in Dongguan, serving local customers via both online and offline channels.
Sean Clarke, Wal-Mart China president and chief executive officer, said that among all prefecture-level cities, Dongguan has the most Wal-Mart stores. The company is very optimistic about the Dongguan market and will continue to enhance investment.
Clarke said Dongguan is also an important goods procurement market for Wal-Mart. Its various products, especially apparel, shoes, and toys, are popular among Wal-Mart's customers across the country.