THE future of Irish retail is a hybrid of physical stores and online shopping, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told a Belfast business event on Wednesday.
The Irish enterprise minister was one of five ministers to address Retail NI’s Future High Streets Summit at Titanic Belfast.
NIO minister Conor Burns, shadow levelling up minister Alex Norris, Agriculture minister Edwin Poots and Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey were among the speakers at what Retail NI said was one of the largest ever attended high street conferences here.
The conference saw the senior government figures outline their vision for the regeneration and transformation of high streets in the post-Covid era.
Addressing the event remotely after testing positive for Covid-19 last week, Leo Varadkar said: “Two years ago, none of us could have predicted the terrible consequences that Covid-19 would have on our previously bustling high streets and shopping centres.”
Recounting how many businesses had embraced digital and home deliveries, he said the conference was “a good opportunity to share our experiences and find ways to work more closely together for a strong, prosperous all-island economy”.
Laying out his vision, he said: “I strongly believe that the future for retail is hybrid with physical stores and online shopping providing a new and even better retail experience.”
NIO Minster Conor Burns said the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ funding can be of use when it comes to the regeneration of high streets.
The chief executive of Retail NI, Glyn Roberts, said there was no shortage when it comes to strategy and policy in respect of the future of high streets.
But the said: “The question that Retail NI members ask is how we get local, regional and national governments all pushing in the one direction and more importantly how all these policy priorities can be delivered so we can create 21st century high streets.
“Alongside a dynamic retail and hospitality offering we also need to ensure they become multi-functional hubs with libraries, community services, police stations, healthcare, leisure, education, open spaces, housing and sports facilities.”
