Southland Export Business Award Winners
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The Export Southland Recognition Awards were held tonight, Friday 21 September at the Ascot Park Hotel. The Export Southland Trust hosted the Minister for Trade & Export Growth Hon. David Parker and over 250 other dignitaries, export businesses and their supporters at the prestigious awards dinner, a record number of attendees.
Export Southland Chairman Graham Dick said “The awards are a fantastic night to recognise significant export contribution from Southland and encourage new and potential exporters which aligns with the theme for this year – Taking Southland to the World.”
A record number of applications for the various categories is evidence of the intense interest and enthusiasm in the export sector. My congratulations to all recipients of awards and to the two recipients of cash grants from the Export Southland Trust and HSBC, good luck as you move onto the international stage.
The highlight of the evening was the awarding the Corporate Recognition Award to Blue River Dairy for their contribution to the Southland economy from exporting sheep milk infant formula to China and the Individual Recognition Award to Mark O’Connor, former CEO of Southport for his decades of contribution to the export sector with the development of South Port and of freight logistics.”
The Export Southland Recognition Award winners are:
Export Southland; Innovation in Export Recognition Award
Finalists; Blue River Dairy, Lillipad, Southland Disability Enterprises, FI Innovations.
WINNER: FI Innovations
AIR NZ National Cargo; Service to Export Individual Recognition Award
WINNER: Mark O’Connor
HSBC; Organisation Recognition Award
WINNER: Blue River Dairy
Recipients of the 2018 HSBC Export Southland Trust Grant are:
- Say It Clearly – Miriam McKenzie $9,000
- Gathered Game – Chris & Sally Thorn $5,000
The purpose of the Trust Grant is to assist Southland businesses involved in export to aspire towards a sustainable environment, which supports the employment of a skilled workforce through the involved of training, promotion, and education up-skilling, as well as research and development.
At their discretion, the Trust Committee offers a grant/s to the applicant/s who demonstrate that their exporting activity will enhance skills, employment, and development in the Southland region within the export sector.
BACKGROUND:
The Export Southland Recognition Awards are a biennial event alternating with the Westpac Southland Business Excellence Awards and have become a prestigious and popular event.
They are facilitated by the Southland Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Export Southland Trust.
The four main purposes of Export Southland are:
- Represent exporters’ views on policy issues
- Promote networking, education and social events
- Recognise significant business and individual contributions to the export sector
Assist start-up export orientated businesses