Preparation of the retail sector’s future report in progress

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has begun to prepare a report on the future of the retail sector, outlining a framework for the sector’s strategic long-term development. In the preparation of the report, the retail sector turmoil caused by the coronavirus epidemic is taken into account.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has set up two working groups and launched a written consultation for the report.

Written consultation supports the preparation of the report

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is now requesting expert statements to help with the preparation of the report. At a later stage, the Ministry intends to conduct surveys for consumers and companies in the retail sector.

In the written consultation that is now being launched, views and suggestions are invited for content and development proposals that should be included in the report. The Ministry is also inviting comments on tangible measures with which the government could respond to the transformation of the retail sector in Finland. Furthermore, experts are asked to assess the impacts of the coronavirus epidemic or similar unexpected incidents on the retail trade sector.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment asks that expert statements are submitted no later than on 22 May 2020 by 16.15 to lausuntopalvelu.fi.

Working groups prepare a report to Parliament

The report in question is a government report, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for its preparation. The report will be prepared together with the retail sector, experts, ministries and government agencies. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has appointed a steering group and a working group of public officials and experts for the report.

Chaired by Director-General Ilona Lundström from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the steering group consists of the following organisations: Finnish Commerce Federation, Finnish Chamber of Commerce, Consumers’ Union of Finland, Pellervo Coop Center, Service Union United (PAM), Family Business Federation, Central Union for Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Association of Finnish Technical Traders, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Environment, and Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

The working group of public officials and experts is chaired by Natalia Härkin, Ministerial Adviser from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and it consists of the following organisations: Aalto University School of Business, University of Tampere, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of the Environment, Business Finland and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

The preparation of the report is based on the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

Inquiries:

Natalia Härkin, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7168