American retailer Gap is partnering with Arvind Lifestyle to open stores in India.

The pair plan to open about 40 stores, the first two to open in Mumbai and Delhi in 2015.

“India is an emerging, vibrant market and an important next step in our global expansion strategy,” said Steve Sunnucks, global president of Gap.

Gap has a long-standing commitment to India having sourced products from the country for decades. India is one of the company’s top 10 global sourcing locations and Gap has worked in an effort to build relationships and responsible practices with vendor partners.

In 2007, Gap launched the PACE (Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement) workplace education program in India with one vendor in two manufacturing units. The program offers female garment workers the life skills education and technical training they need to advance at work and in life. Currently 25 of the 64 manufacturing facilities that participate in the program are based in India.

Gap has almost 400 franchise-operated stores and about 3200 company-owned stores around the world.