Penang : Camtech Asia IT & T Sdn Bhd clinched the MSC-APICTA Prime Minister's "Best of the Best" award for it's universal commerce engine on Friday night.

Executive chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Taib told Star Biz that the product, branded CAZH was used by banks for clearing electronic payments.

"It took us two-and-a-half years to develop the product, which was released (in the) market last year," he said.

Kamaruddin said the company was now involved in research and development work to produce the next generation of the universal commerce engine.

He was speaking after receiving the award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Abdullah Badawi at the MSC-APICTA 2005 Award dinner.

Two other software companies, IFCA MSC Bhd and Provin (M) Sdn Bhd, were also among the winners of the MSC-APICTA awards.

IFCA MSC's hospitality software won the award under the best tourism and hospitality category, while Provin healthcare software won the award for best healthcare product.

IFCA MSC chief executive officer Ken Yong said its hospitality software was used by hotels and resorts.

"About 70% of our products are sold overseas," he said, adding that majority of the golf resorts in the country were IFCA customers.

Meanwhile, Provin chief executive officer Kelvin Chong said its software was used in the medical industry for controlling clinical processors.

"Our customers are mostly medical equipment suppliers, hospitals and polyclinics," he said.