12 May 2009
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) today announced that more than 70 companies from around the country have qualified for the second stage of the New Zealand International Business Awards. Qualifying for Stage 2 puts all these companies one step closer to being awarded the Judges’ Supreme Award prize of $100,000, to fund further international growth.
According to Tim Gibson, CEO of NZTE, there have been a strong number of entries into this year’s Awards, which will recognise the best business operating internationally in three categories: under $10 million, $10 to $50 million and over $50 million.
“We have been delighted with both the high number of entries and the excellent standard of the submissions received across all award categories,” he said.
“The New Zealand International Business Awards are about recognising the strength of New Zealand businesses that are operating internationally. Looking at the quality of this year’s entries, our judging panel will have a hard job narrowing the field down to determine the finalists and winners.”
Many of the stage two qualifiers have attended workshops run by NZTE over the past week. The workshops, held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton, were designed to give entrants support in developing their entries to take them through to the next round of the Awards.
Iain Leech, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Management for ANZ, Strategic Partner for the Awards, provided participants with valuable insights into the current state of the international trade market.
“Even in challenging times exporters continue to lead New Zealand into overseas markets, highlighting their resilience and adaptability,” said Leech. “It is pleasing to see the responsible approach being taken by exporters in managing and protecting their cash flows from export sales.”
Qualifying entrants must submit Stage 2 entries by 3pm Friday 29 May. Finalists will be announced mid-August and the winners will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on 30 September 2009.
For more information visit www.nzte.govt.nz/awards.
The New Zealand International Business Awards are organised by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and proudly supported by strategic partner, ANZ. Other Award partners are Business New Zealand and TechNZ.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ann Clifford, Communications Consultant, NZTE,
phone +64 4 816 8321 or +64 27 283 3858 (mobile)
Anna Jackson, nbpr
phone +64 9 354 0568 or +64 27 517 1848 (mobile)
About the awards:
The New Zealand International Business Awards, organised by NZTE, recognise New Zealand businesses operating successfully in international markets.
The Awards both acknowledge and encourage success by providing value to all entrants. In addition to a $100,000 Supreme Award prize, the Awards feature an evaluation programme that will provide feedback to businesses on areas they can work on to become even more competitive.
Award categories include:
- Best business (small, medium and large) operating internationally
- Most innovative international business model
- Best use of design in international business
- Best commercialisation of intellectual property in international business
- Best use of research and development in international business.
The Supreme Award will be presented to an overall winner that has stood out across all of the above categories.
The Awards will also recognise an emerging and an outstanding business leader who have made a significant contribution to business internationalisation.
Winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony on 30 September 2009.
Find out more about the New Zealand International Business Awards.
