US apparel giant Gap Inc plans to expand its Asian operations beyond Japan by opening 30 stores in Singapore and Malaysia within the next five years, the company said today.

The popular fashion retailer said it has inked an agreement with FJ Benjamin giving the Singapore-listed fashion retailer the rights to bring its Gap and Banana Republic brands into the city-state and neighbouring Malaysia.

"Singapore and Malaysia represent two of the most dynamic retail markets in the world and we are delighted to enter this collaboration with FJ Benjamin to extend the reach of our brands in these countries," Andrew Rolfe, president of Gap Inc International said in a statement.

In Singapore

FJ Benjamin, which has brought to the region other popular fashion labels like Valentino and Raoul, plans to open the first Gap flagship store outside of Japan in Singapore during the third quarter.

It plans to open Banana Republic's first non-Japanese Asian outlet, also to be sited in Singapore, in the second quarter of 2007.

"Gap and Banana Republic are global fashion icons and we intend to aggressively launch and grow these brands in Singapore and Malaysia," said Frank Benjamin, chairman and chief executive of FJ Benjamin.