Cloud-based commerce platform Shopify is to set up a customer service operation in Galway, creating up 50 jobs by early next year.

Shopify allows small and medium-sized businesses to design, set up and manage their stores across multiple sales channels.

The firm is recruiting customer support agents, which it calls “gurus”, to work remotely and support international merchants.

"Our 24/7 customer support has become one of the most valuable services that we offer to our merchants," said Roy Sunstrum, Shopify's director of customer support. "By hiring Remote Gurus in Ireland, we can ensure that merchants around the globe, in any time zone, will have access to one-on-one support from one of our commerce experts. Ireland has become a major tech hub and the level of talent is what really drew us to the region."

Headquartered in Canada, Shopify currently employs more than 600 people, powering over 165,000 stores in 150 countries.

The announcement was welcomed by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.

“We can now justifiably call Ireland the internet capital of Europe. Today’s announcement that Shopify is opening operations in Galway and looking to hire up to 50 positions by 2016 is a great boost for the West, and a further great example of what is possible right across the country in this sector.”