Indiantelevision.com Team

(18 October 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Wal-Mart Store is on course to source directly more than $600 million in goods in 2006 from suppliers in India for the company’s stores around the world.

Last year, Wal-Mart Global Sourcing India Private Limited directly sourced more than US $400 million from suppliers in India. In addition, Wal-Mart bought a substantial amount of Indian-made goods through importers. Major categories sourced from India include home textiles, apparel, fine jewelry and house wares.

Kapur says, "Wal-Mart’s position as one of the leading buyers of Indian products is a position carefully earned over the years through close partnership with our suppliers. We expect that direct sourcing from the region will continue to grow as suppliers in the region are innovative and respond quickly to new trends and business opportunities”.

Wal-Mart Global Procurement began its activities in India in 2001 with the opening of a sourcing liaison office in Bangalore and in 2006 has grown to a full subsidiary with more than 120 associates. The office in India serves as a hub for sourcing merchandise from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka to Wal-Mart stores around the world.