Innovation and Success Celebrated at AmCham Business awards
New Zealand innovation and imagination in developing new world beating technology products and services shine through in
4th Annual American Chamber of Commerce Success & Innovation awards. The finalists are diverse and include specialist software for the health sector, baggage handling
equipment, high technology products for the timber industry through to the marketers of popcorn.
"The awards celebrate business entrepreneurship, innovation and success in building business and trade between New
Zealand and the USA," says Michael Stanley, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. "The United
States is our second largest trading partner and the potential is ripe to grow the relationship significantly.
"American investors are interested in New Zealand as a hotbed for new ideas in a range of sectors from new technology,
healthcare systems, biotechnology, agricultural products and telecommunications. AmCham, with a healthy membership of
leading corporates and new businesses from both sides of the Pacific, has a contact and information network well
positioned to help exporters and importers grow the opportunities.
"These awards recognise the potential of building bilateral business ties in diverse areas and celebrate New Zealand and
American importers' and exporters' innovation and success in cracking the market," Mr Stanley said. The contest has been
narrowed down to 11 finalists for exporter of the year to the United States for goods, services and technology and new
and evolving export businesses as well as for importer of the year from the United States. The finalist are: Importer of
the Year from the USA: 3M New Zealand Ltd Pop'n'Good Popcorn Ltd
Exporter of the Year to the USA - Goods: Glidepath Ltd Compac Sorting Ltd Criterion Group Ltd
Exporter of the Year to the USA - Services & Technology Orion Systems International Pulse Data Software of Excellence
Exporter of the Year to the USA - New & Evolving Advanced Traffic Supplies Fibre-Gen Icebreaker Ltd
The above Award winners receive a return business class airfare to Los Angeles on Air New Zealand along with other
prizes.
Awards are also given to acknowledge and celebrate the US investor of the year, contribution to tourism and member of
AmCham, which promotes bilateral and Pacific Rim business, trade and investment. These are: Investor of the Year from
the USA Brunswick Corporation General Electric Julian Robinson/Kauri Cliffs
Contribution to Tourism with USA Cruise New Zealand Newman's South Pacific Vacations The Royal Tour - Project Manager -
Tourism New Zealand
The awards are sponsored by AmCham in conjunction with Air New Zealand. Other sponsors include past winners Peace
Software and ZESPRI International as well as AIG, Baldwin Shelston Waters, CitiGroup, Ernst and Young, Fesco, New
Zealand Trade & Enterprise, UPS Worldwide Services and the Sheraton Auckland.
The awards dinner will be held at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers on August 27 with Prime Minster Helen Clark
presenting the Export Awards.