Southeast Asian retail specialist Valiram Group is planning to open airport outlets for duty-free retail shopping as part of its expansion in the Philippines over the next five years.

The plan was discussed when Valiram Group officials met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Singapore last weekend, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

The Malaysian conglomerate looks to introduce several brands that are not yet represented in the Philippines and build more airport walk-through stores to improve the customer experience and remove the “stress and hassles of security checks”.

“I think you need to have these pockets of spaces that are dedicated for luxury travel retail, and you can have all the categories, whether it’s fragrance, cosmetics, tobacco, you know, fashion and accessories,” the PCO quoted a Valiram official as saying.

Malacanang stated President Marcos welcomed Valiram’s plan to expand its operations in the Philippines, acknowledging that retail business is a significant part of today’s economy and of the tourism industry.

Established in 1935 in Kuala Lumpur, Valiram is Southeast Asia’s leading luxury goods and retail specialist with a presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam. The group operates more than 350 stores and represents over 200 brands across various categories.