Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer and India's Bharti group are all set to invest nearly 100 million dollars in the subsequent three-four years to open 15 cash-and-carry stores in India.

They have already opened their first cash-and-carry joint venture store in India on an investment of $7 million.

Speaking on the issue, Rajan Bharti Mittal (vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Enterprises) said, "This is a beginning and we will come up with 15 more stores in the next three years. We have already tied up with 30,000 retailers and 8,000 suppliers and expect more to join us."

Mittal further said that almost 80 % of their suppliers were from Punjab and they would set up their next store in Ludhiana.

About 50,000-1 lakh square feet of land will be required for each store and each store would provide employment to about 5,000 men & women.

It was the year 2007 when the joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores Inc came into existence.

The Amritsar store, will offer 200 direct and 500 indirect jobs. Bharti & Wal-Mart, had previously planned to open the store May 26 but the killing of a spiritual leader in Austria following which Punjab plunged into violence, barred them from doing the same.

The brand name of the stores will be "Best Price Modern Wholesale."