Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. was founded by Sam Walton, a legend of American retail industry, in Arkansas in 1962.   After forty years of growth, it has become the world's largest private employer and retailer.  The company employs more than 1.6 million associates worldwide and operates more than 5,300 units in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, Korea, Germany and the United Kingdom. Worldwide, about 140 million customers visit Wal-Mart stores weekly.
 
In 2004, Wal-Mart accomplished USD285.2 billion sales globally. It ranked first on the FORTUNE 500 list for four consecutive years, and made FORTUNE magazine's list "Most Admired Companies in America" for two years in a row.  Meanwhile, Wal-Mart was named one of the "Most Respected Companies" and the "Best Companies to Work for" in many other countries. In 2003, Wal-Mart was elected as one of the "Most Respected Companies in China" by the Enterprise Management Case Study Center of Beijing University and the Economic Observer. In 2004 Wal-Mart topped the China Business Competitiveness Index among commercial and trade companies. In August the same year Wal-Mart ranked No.8 among the "Most Admired Companies in China" elected by FORTUNE Chinese edition and was the only retailer on the list.

Wal-Mart entered the international market in 1991. Now its business covers 9 countries with about 1600 stores, employing over 400,000 associates. Wal-Mart owns 37.8% interest in Seiyu, Ltd., a leading retailer with over 400 stores in Japan. In 2004 its international sales reached USD 56.2 billion, an 18.3% increase compared with the previous year.

In 1996, Wal-Mart entered the Chinese market.  The first Supercenter and SAM'S CLUB were opened in Shenzhen, China. Nowadays, we operate 46 units in 21 cities, including Shenzhen, Dongguan, Kunming, Dalian, Shantou, Fuzhou, Shenyang, Xiamen, Harbin, Changchun, Changsha, Nanchang, Beijing, Ji'nan, Qingdao, Nanjing, Tianjin, Nanning, Guiyang, Wuhan and Taiyuan.  Our operation includes 41 Supercenters, 3 SAM'S CLUBS, and 2 Neighborhood Markets.  We employ more than 23,000 associates in China.  We also have invested up to RMB1.6 billion in China and paid more than RMB 1 billion in taxes. As an outstanding corporate citizen, we actively participate in community service and charity events, and we have donated over RMB20 million worth of materials and monetary funds to local charity and welfare organizations in nine years.

Wal-Mart China has adhered to the Wal-Mart tradition to build the business - one store at a time, one customer at a time, quality merchandise at low prices, and friendly customer service. With store openings, we introduce advanced retail techniques and concepts to arouse competition and improve business operation and customer service on local markets.  This contributes prosperity to the local economy. 

Wal-Mart firmly believes in local procurement since we recognize that quality products can provide good job opportunities, support local manufacturing industry and boost local economic development. Therefore, we procure over 95% of local products whenever a store is opened. To date, we have cooperated with over 20,000 suppliers in China.  In December 2002, Wal-Mart China ranked No.1 on "Good Credibility and Accurate and Prompt Payment" by China Chain Store & Franchise Association and the Department of Enterprise Consultation Service of International Business Machine China Co. Ltd. (formerly Pricewater House Coopers Co. Ltd.). We always treat our suppliers as partners and we grow together.

In addition, Wal-Mart procures high volume of merchandise from China and exports to the rest of the world through its Global Procurement Center located in Shenzhen. Our direct and indirect procurements have increased every year, with USD18 billion in 2004.

Wal-Mart will continue to expand investment and cooperation in China and contribute to the economic development in the following aspects:

Increase procurement and support export of Chinese products to other countries in the world;

Increase investment in China, especially in the western parts of China, to response to the governmental policy of "Developing the West";

Create more employment opportunities and generate more taxes to benefit local economy;

Work closely with consumer manufacturers, share our information and resources, and support manufacturing enterprises to improve production, technology and management skills;

Introduce our advanced retail techniques and experience to promote the Chinese retail industry standard and development.

Editor: Donald