[THE INVESTOR] E-mart will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh to invest US$200 million, it announced on Sept. 8.

Under a strategic partnership with the largest city in Vietnam, to be signed on Sept. 9, the South Korean retail giant will invest in commercial facilities including hypermarkets and supermarkets by 2020.

The hypermarket chain will further expand contribution to the development of the city where it has opened the first E-mart outlet in the Southeast Asian country in December 2015.
E-mart has been actively participating in social activities including building a toy library, and providing 10,000 motorbike helmets for children.

It will also diversify the items it procures locally, from apparel and toys to foodstuff such as fruits and fishery products.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)