Cencosud plans to invest $700m in five South American countries as part of its 2010 growth plan.

The investment will be distributed among projects Cencosud has in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, according to president Horst Paulmann.

Details of how the investment will be distributed among the five countries have yet to be revealed.

The retailer also plans to restart a number of construction projects in Chile it froze earlier this year amid the crisis.