Parkson Holdings plans to open 12 news outlets next year

Department store operator Parkson Holdings Bhd plans to open 12 outlets next year in the three Asian markets that it operates in, chairman and managing director Tan Sri William Cheng said. The target exceeds the number of stores opened this year and reflects optimism that business will improve in 2010 as the global economy recovers from a recession. At least half of the upcoming stores will be set up in China, while three may be in Malaysia and the rest in Vietnam, he said. Cheng expects the group to enter a new market, Cambodia, at the end of next year. The first store to open there will be in the capital, Phnom Penh. (BT)