Ireland has been ranked by Forbes as the best country for business and possesses a highly ideal investment environment, making immigration to Ireland a top choice for many overseas investment immigrants. In the past, the United States was the primary source of foreign investment in Ireland, but in recent years, Chinese enterprises have strengthened their investment in Ireland, making the country a base for China to enter the European market. With the continuous strengthening of its ability to attract foreign investment, domestic employment has also increased, and the income level of residents has risen rapidly, thereby driving the growth of domestic demand and consumption capacity. A recent survey shows that Irish consumers are the most active cross-border online shoppers.
According to media reports, the latest research data from Paypal shows that in the past year, more than 1/4 of Irish online shoppers have made purchases on Chinese websites.
The study also found that in the past year, 86% of Irish online shoppers (estimated at 1.9 million) engaged in cross-border shopping, with nearly 3/4 of Irish online shoppers purchasing from UK shopping websites, 38% from US shopping websites, and 26% from Chinese shopping websites.
The survey also revealed that among consumers in the 29 countries surveyed, Irish consumers are the most active cross-border online shoppers.
The main reasons for Irish people to shop online across borders are the lack of local online shopping channels and unfavorable product prices. More than 3/4 of online shoppers stated that they shop in other countries to find affordable, high-quality products, while 73% stated it was to purchase products unavailable on Irish shopping websites.
Paypal Global Operations Vice President Louise Phelan stated that the fact that 26% of Irish shoppers purchase from Chinese websites indicates that Irish online shoppers are savvy buyers.
She said that Chinese retailers and e-commerce websites are becoming increasingly attractive, "Their products are priced in Euros, providing a localized shopping experience for Irish consumers."
The survey also showed that last year, an estimated 1.3 million consumers in the UK shopped on Irish websites. These consumers include Irish people living in the UK, as well as British people purchasing affordable Irish products.Louise Phelan also added that domestic websites remain the first choice for Irish people for online shopping.