IKEA IN RUSSIA: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

摘要

The Web site for the Mega-Samara mall sports a bannerrnthat screams "OPENING Soon!" The problem is, no one can say just how " Soon!" the public will be able to enjoy the 1.4 million-square-foot mall's skating rink, restaurants, and 200 shops. The owner, Swedish furniture giant Ikea, says the mall has been ready for more than a year. But local government officials say the facility violates numerous safety regulations and other rules.rnThe delay appears to have been the last straw for Ikea. On June 23 the retailer said it was putting on hold all new investment in Russia. Ikea's Rus -sia country manager, Per Kaufmann, said in a statement that the decision was "due to the unpredictability of the administrative processes in somernregions," specifically Samara. While Kaufmann says Ikea hopes to complete a handful of projects under way, plans for an additional 30 or so stores have been postponed.