Products and services from almost 800 Northern Ireland companies are part of a “cyber signpost” internet initiative developed by IDB's Trade International and LEDU agencies.

The website at www.idbni.co.uk/keyexport aims to promote small to medium sized enterprises compete for greater sales overseas.

Launching the new internet facility, Sir Reg Empey, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, said: "This is an important online facility which acts as a signpost for potential customers at home and abroad to a website where they can secure specific products and services from Northern Ireland suppliers. In addition to the provision of essential information about products and services, the website includes e-mail and website hyperlinks to individual companies and should thereby contribute to their wider marketing activities.

"This online signpost is a further example of the co-ordinated work of my Department and its agencies in helping local companies to harness internet technology to develop existing and new markets and in speeding up business contacts. Growth, perhaps even survival against a background of global economic downturn and the associated increased competition, demands a sharp focus on new technologies and techniques such as e-business and in new ways of doing business.”

Sir Reg said that the Trade International and LEDU initiative would assist ambitious companies wishing to achieve a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Helping companies to develop contacts, the site will also be marketed by the agencies through their external networks and will become an integral part of the work of INI.

Each company will also be able to update relevant information about its business on the site, which can also accommodate other exporters wishing to be included in the future. (SP)