The American chain Gap has opened its first store in Mexico City, and plans a Latin American expansion that will take it to Colombia and Uruguay by the end of this year.

The Gap inc., in its expansion into the Latin American countries, has increased its strategic partnership with the Almacenes Liverpool stores in Mexico, where it has had a presence since 2009 through the Store in Store program.

The US retailer has now gone on to open its first store, in the Paseo Interlomas mall in Mexico City.

The company also plans to establish stores in two Colombian cities in October (Medellín and Bogotá), as well as a Banana Republic branch in Medellin at the end of this year.

Uruguay is the other market in which the chain will place itself in the coming months, with a store due to open following the signing of an agreement with Neutral Duty Free. In addition, the company is poised to commence online sales for customers in Panama, Colombia, Chile and Peru.

“Latin America has some of the retail markets with the highest growth in the world, with high brand recognition for Gap and Banana Republic. This, combined with the extraordinary acceptance that Gap and Banana Republic have had in Chile and Panama, confirms that there is a significant opportunity for our brands in Uruguay and other countries in the region,” said Stefan Laban, Gap’s Director of Strategic Alliances.

The Gap Inc. group sells the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brands. The company is currently undergoing a period of transformation, with profound changes in direction and clothing design.