An opportunity for innovation, exporting and trading

I have been involved in eCommerce in Northern Ireland for nearly two decades. Ecommerce has grown from small beginnings to a much wider group of merchants, technology and service companies. Now all of us stand at the beginning of a new opportunity.

The only interesting thing about IRP Commerce economically is the scale of business we have facilitated here. Local companies have transacted £1.5 Billion GBP on IRP technology – selling goods into 170 countries. Retailers have become some of Northern Ireland’s exporters without even knowing it – growing in international markets and helping the local economy. 

IRP continues to show its commitment to ecommerce by sponsoring eComm Live 2023 for the fourth consecutive year. We are proud to help Ecomm Live showcase the breadth of innovation created by local merchants, agencies, entrepreneurs & service providers.

We are delighted to renew our sponsorship of eComm Live and to highlight the importance of e-commerce to the Northern Ireland economy.

Dan Loughlin
CEO, IRP

IRP believes that together we have a wider opportunity to grow the Northern Ireland ecommerce economy. We have the trading and innovation advantages to make Northern Ireland a centre of ecommerce excellence. 

Currently IRP are funding a research paper into the economic benefits of ecommerce to the Northern Ireland economy. We’ll be sharing that full report over the next few months and hopefully it becomes the basis of someones further research. The initial findings are that the “NI ecommerce economy”, as a percentage of GDP, is much greater than any of us thought.

The “NI ecommerce economy” as a percentage of GDP – is much greater than any of us thought.

The recent trading arrangements – when settled – will have gifted Northern Ireland with a unique opportunity to become a centre of ecommerce. To develop our collective ecommerce capability, companies will need to perfect the services, data and the technology to succeed. 

We must collaborate in order to capitalise on each other’s strengths, with a collective objective to greatly increase outbound ecommerce trade from Northern Ireland. This means expanding the ecommerce logistics, technology, education and service industries here – ideally all delivered by local companies.

This will create jobs and expertise and will ultimately, we hope, lead to Northern Ireland becoming recognised as a leading centre of ecommerce excellence and trading.

Innovation, trading and competition will drive the industry forward here.

Daniel Loughlin,
CEO, IRP Commere