Awards-a symbol of quality

Advertising Feature

The Fiji Trade and Investment Board Exporter of the Year Award was introduced in recognition of the paramount role played by the private sector.

The presentation of the awards gives the Fiji government an opportunity to recognise the excellence in exporting.

The Exporter of the Year Award is a symbol of quality. It is recognition for the outstanding work of local exporters in

making Fiji’s growth of exports the envy of many nations.

The Exporter of the Year Award involves great participation from the pri vate sector.

This has been evident over the years in the successful export trade show organised by the board to exhibit a broader range of

high quality.

The awards and the accompanying trade show aims to speed up and encour age export and investment in Fiji.

The trade show is a chance for Fiji and the world to see the variety and quality of manufactured goods and services that local producers are exporting to many corners of the globe.

This year the public not only has the opportunity to see the excellence of Fiji exports, but a chance to purchase them, duty free.

As always, the support of the private sector is further evident on the awards night where it provides significant spon sorship in the form of prizes for the win ners of the various categories.

Running in its fourth year, the awards are organised annually in an attempt to generate public awareness of Fiji’s grow ing export industry.

Furthermore it is also to recognise the outstanding work, commitment and contri bution of exporters to the growth of Fiji’s economy.

The awards are open to all Fiji-based

companies, corporations, and individuals

involved in exporting their services.

There were initially six categories but in 1994, an additional special award called the Exporter to New Zealand award was introduced.

This was done in order to recognise the efforts of Fiji exporters for tapping into the New Zealand market.

A new category was also introduced during last year’s awards. This is the Fresh Produce Category.

The award is to recognise and acknowl edge the contribution that fresh produce exporters make to the economy.

There are altogether seven categories and four special awards.

The categories are: • ‘"Services”, which includes airlines,

shipping companies, freight, courier, con

sultancy, architectural and publishing; • “Food and Beverage”, category includes processed foods, soft drinks,

wines, spirits;

• “Household Goods”, includes furni ture, appliances and fitting; • "Building and Industrial”, includes housing, paints timber; • “Clothing Textile and Footwear”,

Ramesh Solanki of United Apparel accepts the PM Exporter of the Year Award last year

includes all types of garments, textiles, footwear and bags; • “Fresh Produce”, includes all types of agricultural products; and • “General”, which includes products like handicraft, ropes and plastics and those which did not pertain to the other awards. The four special awards are Unique Exporter of the Year Award, Exporter to New Zealand, Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year and New Exporter of the Year.

A panel of independent judges assess the total applications. In the past, the qual ity of applications have been described by the organisers as high and have adequately addressed the criteria needed for assess ment. These were the various winners last year: Certificate of Commendation: Awarded to companies who have per formed remarkably well in certain aspects of the exporting business but could be cho sen as winners.

They were: • “Pacific Garments”, (Clothing, Textile and Footwear) for its achievements partic ularly in the export of oil skin products; • “Valebasoga Tropikboards Limited (Building and Industrial)”, for enhancing its exports and development of future export markets; • “JNJ Corporation (Fresh Produce)”, for exporting kava to Europe for the phar maceutical market- a much needed market after the ban placed by Australia.

Special Awards:

The Exporter to New Zealand Award

-Footwear Industries (PI) Limited.

The company has made a concerted effort to increase its exports to New Zealand over the past years and has record ed impressive growth.

New Exporter of the Year Award - Modem Furniture Limited.

The company started manufacture of solid timber entrance doors for export in May, 1995. Within a short time, it has been able to create a niche market for its doors and has been able to exceed its targets for exports.

Unique Exporter of the Year Award - Pasifika Communications Limited. After winning the 1995 New Exporter of the Year Award, it has continued to be suc cessful in tapping the export market into

video production.

Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award - United Apparel (MFC) Limited.

The company manufactures high qual ity suits and trousers and has been pro active in serving the requirements of its clients.

Its export strategy has been extremely successful and this is evident from the achievements of the company and its con fidence in the future of the industry.

The 1997 awards will take place at Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort on November 29.

The awards and trade show is another indication of the continuing drive by the government, through the Fiji Trade and Investment Board, to boost economic growth in Fiji. ■

Ankur Amin and Dakshesh Patel of Ba Industries after winning the 1995 PM’s Exporters of the Year Award