INTERVIEW-Metro looks east for growth over next decade

DUESSELDORF Aug 17 (Reuters) - The world's fourth largest retailer Metro (MEOG.DE) has set its sights on emerging markets in Eastern Europe and Asia in its search for growth, giving the U.S. market the cold shoulder, its deputy chief executive said.

"The United States is currently not on our top-priority list," Thomas Unger told Reuters in an interview published on Monday.

"We will increase our exposure to Eastern Europe and especially to Asia, because that's where we see an enormous growth potential in the long term."

"We see great opportunities and challenges in Asia over the next ten years," said Unger, who started as deputy CEO this month, overlooking Metro's restructuring programme as well as its consumer electronics, department store and real estate businesses.

(Reporting by Eva Kuehnen and Nikola Rotscheroth)

((eva.kuehnen@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1244; Reuters Messaging: eva.kuehnen.reuters.com@reuters.net))

($1=.7005 Euro) Keywords: METRO/ASIA

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