ABSEC, a Co Down-based company specialising in providing cashless payment systems, was yesterday awarded the Compaq Trade Award for 1999.
The company, a world leader in providing cashless payment products, was presented with a perpetual trophy by the President, Mrs McAleese, who said cross-border trade was one of the ways in which relationships could be built between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Absec's vending and smart-card payment solutions have applications in staff canteens, for security access, and in the control of photocopiers. The 17-year-old company counts Ulster Bank, Guinness and Trinity College, Dublin, among its clients. Absec, which is based in Bangor, also won in the Small Business, Northern Ireland category.
The annual awards, which are sponsored by Compaq are given to companies which contribute significantly to cross-border trade.
The Special Individual award was presented to Dr Tony O'Reilly, chairman of Independent Newspapers, for his role in establishing the Ireland Funds 24 years ago. He is currently chairman of the Ireland Funds, now one of the world's largest private sector foundations with more than $100 million (€92 million) in funds.
The other category winners were the civil engineering company, John Graham, of Dromore, Co Down, which won the Large Business, Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland award; and East Coast Adventure, an outdoor adventure centre in Co Louth, which won the Small Business, Republic of Ireland, award.
Mrs McAleese said co-operation between the North and the Republic was something which should not be left to politicians alone. Everyone had to be "a stakeholder" in this process. "There is clear evidence that the years of conflict have been a major barrier to what could have been and should have been a dynamic, sustained economic relationship between north and south," she said.
The managing director of Compaq Ireland, Mr Tom Keating, said total trade between the North and the Republic amounted to $1.7 billion in 1997, reflecting increased links between the two jurisdictions.
