TOKYO, JAPAN - ABOUT 100 Japanese firms will begin selling products via an Internet site in China next month, targeting combined sales of 4 billion yen (S$63.7 million) in the first year of operation, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday.

The Shanghai-based settlement network operator China UnionPay and Sumitomo Mitsui Card are among the partners that will jointly run the virtual mall, the report said.

The firms considering selling products via the system include electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera, drugstore chain Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings, mail order catalogue sales firm Cecile and children's clothing retailer Narumiya International, the Nikkei said.

SBI VeriTrans will operate the website and handle customs procedures, with China Post delivering the goods in China.

A specialised distribution centre in Japan will enable the delivery of products by air to Chinese consumers as soon as two days after ordering, the report said.

Some 20,000 different products are expected to be available on the site, enabling Chinese consumers to buy Japanese products currently not available at local stores, the Nikkei said. -- REUTERS