The union of shopping centers asked Uniqlo, Zara and H&M to return to Russia

The union indicated that they were ready to promote a dialogue, solve logistics problems and maintain “reimbursement without obstacles” of foreign companies in the Russian market. “If their companies consider the possibility of resuming work in the Russian retail sector, we invite you to discuss potential opportunities, including individual lease conditions, location preferences and strategies that take into account the details of the market,” said the appeal.

The organization said they interviewed more than 100 largest shopping centers in Russia to discover their preparation to cooperate with UNIQLO, Inditex and H&M. According to the survey, more than half of the mall confirmed the will to start working with these companies again, offering current facilities for immediate lease or forced to “quickly release squares.”

Although the western brands that departed from Russia replaced domestic ones, not all of them work successfully, said STC Vice President Pavel Lyulin. For example, Russian brand clothing, which is positioned as an Uniqlo analogue, closed five of the seven stores. “Apparently, therefore, more than half of the representatives of the shopping centers surveyed by the STC expect a return [зарубежного бизнеса] And they are ready to provide platforms to buy, ”Lulin suggested.

• Previously, the STC reported that Inditex was negotiating privately to return to Russia. According to the Union, the “defrost” period should come for this, when relations between Russia and Western countries will apply to mitigate sanctions.
• The fact that foreign companies return to Russia were also reported by Telegram channels. According to Mash, Inditex “studies the situation in the market, increases files and documents” to quickly resume work in the country. According to Shot, several former employees of the Uniqlo store received a question from the former leader about his willingness to return to work.
• On February 12, the president of the United States, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, had a telephone conversation, during which they agreed to begin negotiations to complete the conflict in Ukraine. Bloomberg sources said Putin was collecting a “heavyweight team” to conclude an agreement with the United States, among which it can be an assistant to Russia President Yuri Ushakov and the head of the Sergei Naryshkin Foreign Intelligence Service .