2004 Export Awards Entries Open

New Zealand Trade And Enterprise 2004 Export Awards Entries Open

21 October 2003 - New Zealand exporters across a range of sectors are being urged to enter the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise 2004 Export Awards.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) CEO Tim Gibson says the annual Export Awards play a vital role in celebrating outstanding export growth and providing inspiration for others.

“Export success is critical to lifting New Zealand’s economic performance and NZTE, the new trade and economic development agency, is committed to ensuring the flagship national Export Awards continue to give our exporting heroes the recognition they deserve,” Mr Gibson says.

“Past winners attest to the positive impact of winning an Export Award, other companies benefit from the best practice examples showcased and even the process of entering is beneficial as it provides a mechanism for companies to analyse their export performance.”

To enter the 2004 Export Awards, sponsored by DHL, companies must have been exporting for more than three years, have earned at least $500,000 in foreign exchange in the last financial year and have a minimum of 20% annual growth.

Mr Gibson says it’s important to note that the judges are interested in a company’s overall approach to exporting - and don’t just look at the volume of export sales.

“Regardless of size, if companies are being innovative, using clever strategies and achieving outstanding percentage growth then the 2004 Export Awards offer a chance to step up and be recognised,” he says.

This year the Export Award categories are:
- Agritech, Life Sciences and Biotechnology
- Creative and Design
- Education
- Food and Beverage
- Information and Communications Technology
- Niche Manufacturing
- Services
- Wood Processing, Building and Interiors.

These categories are aligned with NZTE’s sector-led approach and differ slightly from the 2003 Export Award categories with the introduction of Niche Manufacturing (incorporating engineering and consumer products) and the explicit inclusion of biotechnology – one of the three enabling sectors identified by the Government in its Growth and Innovation Framework.

The Creative and Design category introduced last year has been retained for the 2004 Export Awards, however another category introduced last year - for emerging exporters - will this year be run by Export New Zealand as part of its annual regional awards programme.

Also, to clarify the process and ensure consistency with other national award programmes, this year a group of finalists will vie for 2004 Export Awards. The Exporter of the Year in each category and the Supreme Exporter of the Year will be named 2004 Export Awards winners and each receive a prize of $5000 worth of NZTE services.

The 2003 Supreme Exporter of the Year was kiwifruit marketer ZESPRI International Ltd. Chairman Craig Greenlees says winning was “great for ZESPRI, great for staff and great for New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry”.

DHL Express General Manager Phil Rountree says the Export Awards provide a prestigious platform to reward exporting achievement and are an essential element in helping foster innovative organisations.

"DHL gets a great insight into the issues exporters face and by supporting the Export Awards we strengthen our relationship with the export industry. Some 65% of the 2003 Export Award winners were existing DHL customers and given this connection we are especially pleased to support the Export Awards again as they acknowledge the top echelon of exporting and entrepreneurial talent and provide companies with another tool to translate ambition into reality."

Entries for the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise 2004 Export Awards open tomorrow and will close on November 30. Entry forms will be available on http://www.exportawards.co.nz.

Eligible companies will be invited to complete a stage two entry later this year, with finalists to be announced in May 2004 after site assessments are completed and the category winners and the Supreme Exporter of the Year to be announced at a gala dinner later in 2004. ulk. www.dhl.co.nz

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