11 May 1995
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 1995 AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS
Announcing that nominations for the 1995 Australian Export Awards are open from this week, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, said today the Awards will once again provide an opportunity for Australia to recognise and reward the excellence and efforts of our exporting companies.
"Australia exporters continue to break new ground in markets around the world," Senator McMullan said.
"They are out there - in the growing markets of the Asia-Pacific, the traditional markets of Japan, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, and the emerging markets of the Indian Ocean Rim and Latin America - demonstrating Australia's growing ability to compete with the rest of world in both manufactured goods and services.
"The Australian Export Awards give recognition to these companies as international achievers making a major contribution to the health of the Australian economy.
"The 1995 Awards, with a new nomination system, should attract a record number of entries."
The new nomination system encourages exporting companies to nominate themselves, or for individuals to nominate companies they believe are achieving exporting excellence.
Senator McMullan said the new system effectively opens up the awards to the business community.
"Service providers like banks and financial advisers, as well as company clients and customers, can nominate exporters for their performance based on direct personal or corporate experience," Senator McMullan said.
Background:
Last year the Australian Export Awards - co organised by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - attracted record entries across Australia.
The entry point for the Awards is the State and Territory export awards programs.
Nominations for awards open in every State and Territory this week.
Nominated companies will be sent an application form which enters them in the State and Territory Award and the Australian Export Awards.
Applications close in all States and Territories on 14 July.
The State and Territory winners - who automatically become finalists in the Australian Export Awards - will be announced in October.
The Australian Export Award winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony in Sydney at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre on Tuesday 28 November.
Categories are:
The DHL Australian Exporter of the Year Award which will be chosen from the six category winners below
AusIndustry New Exporter Award - for outstanding export achievement by an organisation which has been exporting manufactured goods or services for three years or less
Mineral Products Award - for outstanding achievement by an organisation exporting mineral products
Agricultural Products Award - for outstanding achievement by an organisation exporting agricultural products
Commonwealth Bank Small to Medium Manufacturers Award - for outstanding achievement by a manufacturer with total annual sales of $20 million or less
EFIC Large Manufacturers Award - for outstanding export achievement by a manufacturer with total annual sales of more than $20 million
Telstra Services Award - for outstanding achievement in a recognised Australian Service Industry. The achievement must be quantifiable with specific, verifiable export earnings.
Further information:
Senator McMullan's office: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420
Austrade: Tom Parkes
Capital Public Affairs Consultants
(06) 248 9344 (office)
(06) 251 2026 (after hours)