Walmart targets online growth in China and Japan

New York City A report released Monday by the Financial Times said that Wal-Mart Stores is drawing up plans to launch e-commerce operations in China and Japan as part of the retailer’s focus on driving sales by expanding its online presence into new global markets.

Walmart already has 282 physical stores in China and 371 Seiyu stores in Japan, but has no direct online sales.

It is now setting up systems for adapting its new centralized dotcom technology platform, which it has been developing over the past two years, according to the report.

Earlier this year, Walmart set up a new Global.com business unit in San Francisco, headed by Wan Ling Martello, formerly CFO of its international business.

Vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright said in January that the new business unit would seek to expand “both in developed markets where we currently have stores and an online presence, and in markets where we don’t.”

Walmart has stores in 14 countries, and a strong online presence in the United States and in the United Kingdom, with its Asda.com business, which is also going to be linked into its new global technology platform.