of success

Exporter Of The Year

At the peak of success

1996 Prime Minister’s m' Exporter of the Year JL Award was presented to United Apparel for its manufac ture of high-quality suits and trousers for its pro-active role in serving the requirements of its clients.

The company’s export strate gy was considered extremely suc cessful, evident from its achieve ments and confidence in the future of the industry.

The Fiji Trade and Investment Board Exporter of the Year awards were presented on the night of Saturday, December 7, in the capital, Suva.

The awards were introduced in recognition of the paramount

role played by the private sector

in Fiji’s economic community.

The presentation of the awards gives the Fiji government an

opportunity to recognise and

reward excellence in the export sector.

The 1996 Exporter of the Year Award saw enthusiastic participa tion from the private sector.

This was particularly evident in the successful trade show organised by the board to exhibit a broader range of high-quality products both for the local and the overseas markets early last year.

The support of the private sec tor was further displayed on the awards night in December where

it provided significant sponsor

ship in the form, of prizes for the winners of the various categories.

Running in its fourth year, the awards are organised annually in an attempt to generate public awareness of Fiji’s growing export industry, recognising the out-

standing work, commitment and contribu tion of exporters to the growth of Fiji’s economy. The 1996 awards were open to all Fiji-based companies, corporations, and individuals involved in exporting

their services.

In 1994, an additional special award called the Exporter to New Zealand award was introduced to recognise the efforts of exporters in Fiji in tapping into the New Zealand market. 1996 saw the introduction of another new category - Fresh Produce - at the suggestion of a former finance minister of

the country.

The award recognises and acknowledges the contribution that fresh pro duce exporters make to the economy.

Altogether, there are seven categories with four special awards for the 1996 Exporter of the Year.

The categories are: • “Services”, which includes airlines, shipping, freight, courier, consultan cy, architectural and pub lishing companies. • “Food and Beverage”, which includes processed foods, soft drinks, wines and spirits. • “Household Goods”, which includes furniture, appliances and fittings. • “Building and Industrial”, which includes housing, paints timber. • “Clothing Textile and Footwear”, which includes all types of garments, tex tiles, footwear and bags. • “Fresh Produce”, which includes all types of agricultural products. • “General”, which includes handicraft, plas ticware and other miscel laneous groups.

The four special awards are the Unique Exporter of the Year, Exporter to New Zealand,

Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year and the New Exporter of the Year.

A panel of four judges assessed a total of 44 applications last year.

The quality of applications was

Ramesh Solanki of United Apparel accepts the PM’s Exporter of the Year Award Picture: Lepani Naulumatua

described by the organisers as high and adequately addressing the necessary crite ria.

The following came out winners in their

respective categories:

Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award - United Apparel (MFG) Limited Unique Exporter of the Year Award - Pasifika Communications Limited for its continued success in tapping the export market in video production since winning the 1995 New Exporter of the Year award.

New Exporter of the Year Award - Modem Furniture Limited for being able to create itself a niche market within a short time, having begun - in May 1995 - the manufacture of solid timber doors for export and in being able to exceed its export target.

The Exporter to New Zealand Award - Footwear Industries (PI) Limited for its concerted effort to increase exports to New Zealand over past years and recording an impressive growth.

Services - Williams & Goslings

Limited for its efforts and accomplishments

in promoting and facilitating Fiji’s export

driven economic development, earning it a reputation for providing an efficient, reli able and professional service to its users.

Food and Beverage - Yee Wah Sing- Frespac Limited for establishing new mar kets in England, Germany, Holland, France and the United States. Having won the Unique Exporter of the Year Award in 1995, the company continues to thrive in the export market.

Household Goods - Pacific Green Furniture Company Limited for its creation of technology in the manufacture of world class furniture and building materials from coconut palm. Its endeavours to reach out to the major markets by exporting quality products has earned Fiji a name as a world class manufacturer of coconut furniture.

Building and Industrial - Ba Industries Limited for continuing to suc cessfully accomplish the targets of the export market. The company also won the 1995 PM’s Exporter of the Year Award.

Clothing and Textile Footwear International (Fiji) Limited for its success ful diversification of its markets to Australia. The company also won the 1995 Exporter to New Zealand Award.

Fresh Produce - Joe’s Farm Produce Limited for making significant progress in broadening its range of products for export since winning a runner-up award in the 1993 New Exporter of the Year category.

General - Performance Flotation Development Fiji Limited for the steady growth of its export of personal floatation devices - life vests and jackets - over the past three years, reflecting compliance with strict Australian Quality Standards.

Certificates of Commendation: Awarded to companies who performed remarkably in certain aspects of the export ing business but could be chosen as win ners.

They were Pacific Garments (Clothing, Textile and Footwear) for its achievements particularly in the export of oilskin prod ucts; Valebasoga Tropikboards Limited (Building and Industrial) for enhancing its exports and development of future export markets; and JNJ Corporation (Fresh Produce) for exporting kava to Europe for the pharmaceutical market, a much-needed market after the ban placed by Australia. ■