The retailer, in partnership with Emirati-based retail and leisure operator Majid Al Futtaim, hopes to open seven new stores in the Central Asian country’s capital of Tashkent by 2021.

As part of the initial roll out phase, Carrefour will open three supermarkets and one hypermarket by the end of 2020, with a further two supermarkets and another hypermarket to be bought online by 2021.

Carrefour said its entry into Uzbekistan would create 2,500 jobs and benefit some 600 local suppliers, producers and farmers.