AmCham-DHL Express Award Finalists announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Growth in US-NZ bilateral trade reflected in award entries

AmCham-DHL Express Award Finalists announced

AUCKLAND, 1 September 2009 - Twenty six companies make up the finalists in the 10th Annual AmCham-DHL Express Awards, with the winners to be announced at a black tie gala this Thursday September 3rd at Auckland’s Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The finalists are innovative companies involved in a diverse range of goods and services reflecting the depth of business links with the USA. A record number of entries were received this year, making the judges’ job even tougher.

The AmCham-DHL Express Awards, staged in conjunction with Qantas, celebrate success and innovation in the import, export and investment sectors between
New Zealand and its second largest trading partner, the USA. Prizes include a travel voucher worth NZ$2,500 to be spent through Business World Travel, on air travel to the USA on Qantas Airways for importer and exporter category winners.

``New Zealand’s bilateral trade relationship with the US has grown by 16% in the last year and it’s worth more than $9.4 billion annually. The American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand is constantly looking for opportunities to enhance and expand business and trade relationships within the private and public sectors,’’ said AmCham’s Executive Director Mike Hearn. ``The annual Success & Innovation Awards provides an opportunity to showcase companies that have demonstrated imagination, innovation and entrepreneurship, and to honour and celebrate their achievements. This year, being the 10th year, is even more special and the awards gala promises to be the highlight of our year yet again.’’

The awards incorporate investment both ways and divide export earnings into three categories, designed to ensure companies can compete on an equal basis.

The awards are:
• Investor of the Year - Open to New Zealand companies investing in the US, and US companies investing in New Zealand
• Importer of the Year from the USA
• Exporter of the Year to the USA, in three categories:
o Export revenues up to $500,000,
o Export revenues between $500,001 and $5 million
o Export revenue over $5 million.

The 2009 Awards have been narrowed down to 23 finalists across the four major categories. They are:

Exporter of the Year - Over NZ$5M
• Argenta Ltd
• Contract Resources Holdings Ltd
• Endace Ltd
• Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd
• Glidepath Ltd
• Natural History New Zealand Ltd
• Orion Health Ltd

Exporter of the Year - NZ$500,000 - NZ$5M
• Emech Control Ltd
• Mobile Commerce Ltd (M-Com)
• Maxwell Rodgers Fabrics
• Silverstripe
• Truescape Ltd
• TrioDent Ltd (NZ)

Exporter of the Year - up to NZ$500,000
• Hairy Lemon Web Solutions Ltd
• James Madelin (Enlight Photo)
• Plant Research (NZ) Ltd
• RoSEE Ltd
• Symansis (NZ) Ltd

Importer of the Year
• California Fruit Tree Agreement
• James Crisp Ltd
• Observatory Crest Ltd
• Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services t/a Christchurch Engine Centre
• Tidd Ross Todd Ltd

The Investor of the year award is a recognition award. The finalists are:

Investor of the Year to or from the USA
• Baxter Healthcare Ltd
• Structurflex Ltd
• Trilogy International Partners, LLC (Two Degrees Mobile Ltd T/a 2 Degrees)

In addition to AmCham, DHL Express and Qantas, the awards are supported by Baldwins, Ernst and Young and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

Previous winners of the Supreme Award have included Zespri International, Peace Software, Airways Corporation, HumanWare, Tenon, Orion Health, Zeacom, SMI Group and last years winner, Fonterra.

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