Northern Ireland companies connect to the Internet

Northern Ireland companies and organisations have been congratulated for seizing the opportunities of the Information Age and recognising the potential of the Internet.

Praise for Northern Ireland’s World Wide Web entrepreneurs came from Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Mr McConnell was speaking at the Northern Ireland Web Awards 2001 ceremony in Belfast on Wednesday September 26.

He said: “We are only starting to realize the benefits the Internet can bring to Northern Ireland. The Internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can increase revenues, reduce costs and improve customer service. Northern Ireland must continue to get connected and to use the technology. In doing so we can compete, offer better services, inform customers more competitively and efficiently, and become better at what we do.”

The Deputy Secretary said: “The Awards are now in their third year and the high volume of entries is a clear indicator of their success. I am delighted that this year saw a 100 per cent increase in the number of entries to a total of 205. The Awards have succeeded in their aim of rewarding excellence in local web design, creativity and effectiveness.”

Mr McConnell said that while the Information Age offered great opportunities, it also offered threats if companies were not “active and creative” in seizing those opportunities.

He said the Awards indicated that Northern Ireland companies were making the World Wide Web work for them and were on the right path in terms of one of the key elements of the new technologies, the creation of websites. (AMcE)