The oldest chamber of commerce in Ireland became the most modern yesterday, unveiling a state-of-the-art website with automatic links to a worldwide business network. Dublin Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1705, said its online presence would act as a magnet for overseas companies wishing to trade with Ireland.

The site, which has four main areas, took almost a year to design and load up with information, said Mr Alan McCarthy, the chairman of the chamber's international business committee, who piloted the project from its inception.

"The chamber of commerce network is the world's largest and best-known business grouping," he said at the launch yesterday. "Almost 2,000 chambers of commerce are now networked through the Internet, and more sites are being connected each week."

The site, designed by Adnet and sponsored in part by Telecom Internet, would be accessible to Dublin Chamber of Commerce staff and members, who would update it with new information as soon as it became available, on a daily basis if necessary, said Mr McCarthy.

Telecom Internet said it would provide all of the group's 1,500 members with Internet access, and special software to allow them type in job advertisements, corporate news or new product information.

The Internet company also offered any member company that doesn't already have a web presence a small site at no charge.

"When foreign buyers and sellers want to make new business contacts, their first point of contact is often with the local chamber of commerce. Dublin Chamber of Commerce will now be a very efficient gateway for business with the world," Mr McCarthy added.