Bharti's retail JV with foreign partner soon

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) Bharti Enterprises Ltd is close to finalise a joint venture with a foreign firm for its proposed retail venture, company's Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said here today.

''We are coming close to finalising the partner... this will happen somewhere at the end of this month or early next month,'' he told reporters.

The retail venture, Mr Mittal said, will begin operations in the first quarter of next financial year.

For the joint venture, UK-based Tesco is a strong contender while Wal-Mart and Carrefour are also in talks with Bharti Enterprises.

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