A 'Hi Tech' facility in the border counties has been officially opened this week - and is already helping a Co Fermanagh construction firm to 'build business'.

Located in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Aura Internet was established by two talented, locals, Breda McGuigan and Claire Cunningham.

An Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment performed the official opening of the new Aura Internet Services which is already the longest established web site design and development company in the North East and is also a FÁS registered training organisation and is an approved supplier on the Bord Bía emarketing panel.

Their work is said to be done to international quality standards and several of their clients have won many awards for their products, service and other areas of excellence.

A company spokeswoman said: "One interesting website is Clarkes in Co Fermanagh who employ around 400 people in Britain and Ireland.

"This family-owned business operates in the communications, civil engineering, construction and other sectors.

"One can check out their successful business interests and current projects at www.clarkeltd.com."

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Other web clients include Westmeath firm Mr. Crumb (www.mrcrumb.ie) and Silver Hill Foods in Co. Monaghan (www.silverhillfoodslife-env.com) as well as Carrickmacross Lace.

Northern Ireland websites Aura have developed include two for Co Tyrone at www.flavouroftyrone.com and www.tyronegoodfoodcircle.com which is marketing the county to potential visitors in a cost effective manner using a combination of useful accommodation/restaurant guides, maps of the area and nice visual images of the many attractions in the region.

Other interesting websites include www.primepacltd.com a plastic packaging company in Antrim and www.cdamc.ie in Donegal.

CDAMC provides customers with a facility where new technologies, such as electrochemical machining can be explored. They won the 2009 Innovation award from the Donegal Enterprise Board.

Aura, which employs five highly, qualified personnel from counties Armagh and Monaghan also specialise in the development of ecommerce solutions for SME and large companies from Antrim to Cork.

They also do IT consultancy work and run Online Marketing and Web Design courses for Enterprise Boards in Cavan, Donegal, Limerick and Monaghan.

According to the Managing Director, Claire Cunningham, web design and ecommerce are growth sectors as Irish companies take advantage of online marketing opportunities to sell across the border and export to Britain, USA and other English language markets.

Claire says that the London Olympics and the EUFA Football Championship in 2012 are a great opportunity to boost exports, using online marketing to promote Irish crafts, food business, service sector, tourism industry etc.

Her fellow Director Breda McGuigan who specialises in graphic design, points out that a retail business can expand using a well designed website without incurring the significant cost of another premises.

According to both ladies, "it is critical that the government continues its focus on the knowledge economy and supports the development of Internet strategy in the SME sector".

"Continued ecommerce grant aid and internet strategy development from the Enterprise Boards and Enterprise Ireland is vital to ensure that Irish companies optimise their use of online marketing," they commented.

See: www.aura.ie

(BMCC/GK)