Premier Investments chairman, Solomon Lew, is set to become Australia’s first inductee into the World Retail Hall of Fame at the upcoming 2016 Word Retail Congress.

Lew will be one of three new members inducted alongside American designer Tommy Hilfiger and British perfumer, Jo Malone at the congress to be held in Dubai during April. Lew is chairman of Premier Investments, the company behind stationery retailer, Smiggle and fashion brands including Portmans and Just Jeans.

“I am deeply honoured to be recognised by my international colleagues and to join such eminent figures in the World Retail Hall of Fame,” said Lew. “The fact that I am the first Australian to be formally inducted serves to honour not only me, but the Australian retail industry which has developed to become one of the most vibrant and competitive in the world.”

“A strong retail industry is the lifeblood of a strong economy with an immense economic multiplier effect both before and beyond the point of sale. For retail to be my life’s vocation, and to have the opportunity to work and engage with so many talented people, continues to be a privilege.”

Lew will join international retail industry figures in the hall of fame including Zara’s Amancio Ortega, Sir Paul Smith, Uniqlo’s Tadashi Yanai, Esprit’s Heinz Krogner, Sephora’s Jacques Levy and Ikea’s Ingvar Kamprad.

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