Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA) and Independent Retail Europe (IRE) co-hosted this year’s annual conference in Dublin today. Representatives from all over Europe were in attendance. Patrick O’Riordan from the European Commission Representation in Ireland opened the conference which took place in the Clontarf Castle Hotel.
The primary topic discussed at the event was access to EU funding for the independent retail sector.
Else Groen Independent Retail Europe Director General said: “Access to adequate levels of finance can be difficult for groups of independent retailers and their member retailers. We wanted to demonstrate that there are ways for our members to meet their financing needs for a variety of different projects from EU sources. This event also showed the great potential that groups of independent retailers have to multiply the effects of EU financing for the benefit of all the independent retailers in their networks.”
The conference also showcased practical finance information on what funding is available and how to access it. Speakers from the European Commission (EASME and DG Regio) as well as the European Investment Bank and the private sector (Dr. Brüning Engineering UG) took to the stage to address the audience.
Tara Buckley Director General, RGDATA added: “RGDATA is delighted to host this year’s Independent Retail Europe Annual Conference and bring specialists on EU funding together with RGDATA members and other independent retailers from across Europe to Dublin. The retail sector rarely gets access to funding programmes so the focus of the conference is very welcome. RGDATA will be encouraging the 3,500 independent retailers that we represent to take advantage of the EU funding opportunities highlighted at the conference.”
Other keynote speakers at todays event included experts from the environment and energy sector such as Julia Wolf from Dr. Brüning Engineering UG presented the RUN project, a real life experience of financing under an EU scheme. Wolfgang Streitenberger from the European Commission (DG REGIO) gave insides on financial instruments available in the field of regional development.
© 2016 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
