Luxury goods maker eyes Asia expansion

SINGAPORE — A top Louis Vuitton executive says the luxury goods maker plans to open two new stores in Asia and expand four others in the second half of the year.

Asia Pacific President Jean-Baptiste Debains told the Associated Press on Wednesday the company will open new stores this year at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino-resort and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport.

Debains said LV also plans to expand stores in Manila, Sydney, Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City.  He said LV opened one store in South Korea and renovated two others in Asia so far this year.

LV has 167 stores in Asia, about a third of its 459 stores worldwide.  LV is part of Paris-based luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. /ap