The South Korean Lotte Group has signed a contract with Weihai Jiulong Real Estate to open a new Lotte Mart in the Weihai Economic and Technical Development Zone in Shandong.

International sports apparel maker Nike has announced plans to invest USD99 million to build a new distribution center in the Taicang Economic Development Area, Jiangsu, to reinforce its future development in China.

China's largest outdoor-themed department store, Neu Outdoor, has opened in Beijing.

According to reports in local media, Herbert Hainer, president of Adidas, recently said that as the wage level in China had been increasing, to reduce the production costs, Adidas plans to transfer a part of its production and purchase from China to other countries.

According to the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, the total retail sales in Hong Kong increased by 10.4% to HKD22.8 billion in August and the total retail sales value and the total retail sales volume in the first eight months of 2008 increased by 15% and 8.3% respectively.

Footwear company Skechers USA, Inc. has expanded its operations in Hong Kong and Macau through a joint venture — Skechers Hong Kong Limited — with the Onwel Group, a leading fashion company in the region.