The recent trading arrangements have gifted Northern Ireland with a window of opportunity to become a world leading centre in ecommerce.
Northern Ireland is now the only place in the world to be able to trade freely into the UK and Europe.
IRP Commerce trading data has shown that Northern Ireland companies are ready to take advantage of this unique situation.
IRP Commerce CCO, Les Curran says,
“After studying data from the IRP Trading Terminal, we note a significant sales uplift for companies with logistics based in Northern Ireland. We attribute this to no outbound trade barriers from NI to the UK and Europe.”
The IRP Commerce Board has decided to take a positive step forward to invest in a structure that will capitalise on this new trading environment. This ecommerce opportunity is not just for IRP, but for businesses based in Northern Ireland and for all companies wishing to locate here.
IRP believes a competitive ecosystem of Partners and Stakeholders can develop Northern Ireland as a centre of eCommerce excellence.
IRP Commerce are pledging to invest £20,000 as a starting fund for NICEe. IRP Commerce will then work with key stakeholders to ensure that NICEe is a collaborative body with a clear charter.
NICEe will build a network of retailers, manufacturers, service providers, logistics professionals, advisors, investors and government partners.
The remit of NICEe will be simple -
- To ensure NICEe profits Northern Ireland businesses
- To ensure ecommerce tax is paid to benefit Northern Ireland
- To create jobs based in Northern Ireland
- To expand the ecommerce services market in Northern Ireland
- To work together to expand trading volume and create a world-leading center of ecommerce excellence in Northern Ireland
We are passionate about maintaining and extending Northern Ireland's reputation for innovation in ecommerce. Through NICEe we can empower the NI ecommerce and business community by equipping them with the data, technology and ecosystem to benefit Northern Ireland.
IRP Commerce CEO Dan Loughlin commented,
“Northern Ireland has been gifted a big opportunity in eCommerce. eCommerce trading volumes transacted by companies based in Northern Ireland is the key metric. This target should be in billions and the IRP is well placed to help.”
Based in Belfast, IRP Commerce is a world leading ecommerce platform technology and ecosystem provider. We’ve helped local companies transact c.£2 billion, with over 90% of this transacted to UK and international markets.
More NICEe information can be found here