Swedish home furnisher Ikea is moving into new premises in Malaysia, which will be the company's largest store in Asia when it opens next month, officials said today.

The 35,811 square meter store, located in suburban Mutiara Damansara, is over four times bigger than its current outlet and overtakes Ikea's new store in Shanghai as the biggest in Asia, a senior official told AFP.

The new store, which consists of showrooms, a warehouse, market hall, playrooms for children and restaurants, will open its door to the public on Aug 14, he said.

Rise in customers

Ikea Malaysia general manager Joseph Lau told The Star today that RM150 million have been invested in the new store.

He said the number of customers, which varies from 3,000 on a weekday and 8,000 daily during the weekend, was expected to increase by 50 percent at the new store.

There will be 7,500 or 50 percent more new products at the new outlet and the number of workers will increase from 230 to 450, he said.

Ikea Malaysia, which recorded revenue of RM110 million for the year ending August 2002, targets RM125 million this year and RM180 million in 2004, he added. - AFP