Kazakhstan

Quick: Which are the best places in the developing world to set up shop? Did you guess Chile? Uruguay? Kazakhstan? All three figure among the top 10 locations for retailers, according to the 2014 Global Retail Development Index put out by A.T. Kearney. The ranking takes into account a country's wealth, logistical and regulatory environment, and overall riskiness to "persons, property and principles." The idea is to select those countries that have just enough of all of the above. Too little and it's tough to do business. Too much and it's tough to stand out. 

New York -- Saks Inc. has opened its first Saks Fifth Avenue store in Kazakhstan, in the city of Almaty. The three-level, approximate 91,000 sq. ft. store is located in the Esentai Shopping Mall, which is the first of its kind in Kazakhstan. In addition...

The Children's Place announced that it's signed a 10-year franchise agreement with Fawaz A. AlHokair & Co. SJSC, known as "Fashion Retail," to open stores across Saudi Arabia. The first two stores are scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2012. Jane Elfers, president and CEO of The Children's Place, stated, "We are very excited to begin our international expansion beyond North America with a number of stores opening in Saudi Arabia this year."

Saks Incorporated announced the planned opening of a licensed Saks Fifth Avenue store in Almaty, Kazakhstan in August 2012.

New York City -- Saks said Tuesday it will open a licensed Saks Fifth Avenue store in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in August 2012.