ICT Illawarra (ICTI)'s directory will give Illawarra-based ICT companies visibility and a means of promoting their capabilities.

The directory is also a supply-chain resource base for companies to collaborate on joint projects or commercial opportunities.

Chairperson Vicki Grossman said it also provided a resource base for national or international companies to identify potential ICT suppliers in the region.

ICTI and NSW Trade & Investment jointly developed the Illawarra ICT Business Directory, funded under the Supply Chain Accelerator Program.

As an industry association, ICTI was itself formed with support from NSW Trade & Investment to raise awareness of ICT businesses and facilitate the growth of the industry in the region.

It aims to inspire, advocate and engage with Illawarra technology businesses to showcase this region as a rapidly growing ICT hub with an abundance of smart businesses and tech-savvy young talent.

ICTI also seeks to facilitate recognition for the Illawarra as a dynamic and attractive place for Australian and International ICT companies to do business, by promoting the region's infrastructure, technology capabilities, educational resources and talent pool. The new directory also helps with that by essentially providing a database of ICT skills and services available in the Illawarra.

Being listed on it is being offered free of charge to local businesses to help them gain traction within the Illawarra and beyond.

It is thought to be the first of its kind within the region and an industry leading initiative.

Ms Grossman said the ability to source a comprehensive range of local ICT specialist services on one database would help showcase the rapidly growing pool of talented individuals and companies choosing to call the Illawarra home as their base of operations.

Those listed were from the Northern Illawarra, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven areas.

Ms Grossman said the initiative also aligned closely with the broader Illawarra Digital Economy Strategy and dovetailed with the rollout of NBN broadband infrastructure in the region.

ICTI also launched its new website on April 23 during a Lightning Talk networking event in the foyer of the SMART infrastructure facility at the University of Wollongong.