Highlands and Islands businesses are being urged to log-on to the benefits of Internet trading under a new development initiative.

The potential market, both in the UK and abroad is enormous, with an estimated 10 million Internet users in Britain alone, and a million of those considering themselves regular 'net' purchasers.

The initiative to encourage electronic commerce in SMEs' (Small to Medium-sized Enterprises) is being launched by development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and aims to increase business turnover and boost employment.

The programme is being managed by HIE's head of knowledge, information and telecommunications Dr Ken MacTaggart who said: "It is now being said that, within a few years, if your business is not on the web, you will not be in business. That may be over-stating the case, but there is no doubt that e-commerce is the future. A wide range of businesses in the Highlands and Islands - from small, local services such as florists, to major exporters of food products and manufactured goods - will need a web presence and an e-selling capability if they are to prosper.

"At this stage it is impossible to predict the full job creation and business growth benefits e-commerce will bring, but the Highlands and Islands must be involved, capitalising on past investments in the area's digital telecommunications network."

HIE's e-commerce development adviser Maarten de Vries, who is running the programme, said: "Comparatively few businesses in the Highlands and Islands use the Internet to do business, yet it is an ideal way for companies here to overcome the distances involved and reach new customers throughout the world."

"As the number of people using the Internet grows, so do the opportunities for e-commerce, but it is important that businesses know how to take advantage of these and what the potential pitfalls are."

The e-commerce programme aims to help companies research, develop and implement e-commerce solutions and will cost £120,000 over the next two years, with £60,000 being invested by HIE, levering in a matching contribution from Europe.

The first of a series of seminars and workshops to address Internet trading - "E-commerce - Is it for you?" - is being held on 1st March at The Green House, in Inverness, with over 50 businesses due to attend. The seminar is aimed at Small to Medium sized Enterprises who are interested in e-commerce and want to know more. It will help to answer the questions most commonly asked, such as; how much will it cost? is it secure and safe? and how will I send my products overseas?

The main speaker will be Doug Tonner, BT's e-business development manager, who will deal with the practicalities of e-commerce, and outline how technological progress has made this an easier option. Others involved will be local companies who provide e-commerce solutions, who will be able to demonstrate the facilities they offer. Also on-hand will be Hamish Robertson from Conon Bridge-based Struan Apiaries who have been on-line since October last year. He said: "The Internet is a useful marketing tool as it opens up new markets nationally and internationally. We advertise our whole range of products on the web so people from the south of England to Shetland, and even further afield can log on, see what is available and place orders.

"The use of the Internet is becoming increasingly important to businesses worldwide so it is essential for local people to understand the capabilities of new technology and how it can be applied." HIE has also launched a new web-site to provide more information on the whole subject of e-commerce, at 'www.hiecommerce.com'.

Any businesses interested in attending the Internet trading seminar on the 1st of March should contact Wendy Sutherland of NewPark Management on telephone number: 01463 667301. It is also possible to use the website to register for the seminar.

Over 30 similar events are to be organised throughout the Highlands and Islands in the months ahead, details of these can be obtained from individual Local Enterprise Companies, or from the web-site.