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2009 TFL Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards launched.

The stage is set for the 2009 TFL Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards. This year marks the 17^th Awards which was launched tonight by the Minister for Industry, Tourism, Trade & Communication – Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Organized by the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau (FTIB), the Awards have continued to grow in status since its inception in 1993. The Awards have also established itself as the premier event on FTIB’s promotional calendar and as an event much looked forward to by exporters and other export stakeholders of Fiji. 

In officiating at the launch of the 2009 TFL Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards, Minister Sayed-Khaiyum reiterated Government’s full commitment to formulating policies that will improve Fiji’s export sector in order to grow the economy.

Minister Khaiyum said Government has allocated funds for programs like the National Export Scheme, the Import Substitution Program, the Export Promotion Program and the development of modern port facilities for the Northern Division to support the newly established Tax Free Regions. These are all part of Government’s initiative to help diversify and increase Fiji’s exports.

FTIB Chairman, Mr Viliame Naupoto acknowledged Telecom Fiji Limited as this year’s major sponsor of the Awards and Vodafone Fiji Limited as the sponsor for both the launches in Suva today and in Lautoka on Thursday 30^th July, 2009.

He also thanked the sponsors of the various awards for their faith, commitment and support to FTIB for the Awards.

This year’s theme for the awards, Boosting Exports: The Cornerstone of Economic Prosperity aims to encourage exporters to venture into various means of increasing exports that will boost economic performance and wealth creation.

In addition to the main Telecommunications Fiji Limited Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award, there are four General Award categories which exporters contest for based on the size of their exports or industry. TFL also sponsors the Hall of Fame Award.

These four General Awards include:

• Small Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Colonial Fiji Group;
• Medium Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Life Insurance Corporation of India;
• Large Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by ANZ Group Fiji; and
• Services Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Westpac Banking Corporation .

All applicants apply under one of these General Award Categories and indicate their interest to be considered in one or more of the following Special Awards:

·         The Unique or Emerging Exporter Award sponsored by Oceanic Communications Limited;

·         The Exporter to New Zealand Award sponsored by Technix Bitumen Pacific;

·         The Exporter to Australia Award sponsored by Fiji Australia Business Council;

·         The Exporter to the Pacific Islands Award sponsored by Home Finance Fiji Limited;

·         The Exporter to USA Award sponsored by Golden Manufacturers Limited;

·         The Indigenous Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Fijian Holdings Limited;

·         The Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Reserve Bank of Fiji;

·         The Fisheries Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Hangton Pacific Company Limited;

·         The Forestry Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Clyde Equipment (Pacific) Limited;

·         The Tourism Services Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Dayal Group of Companies;

·         The Agro-processing Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Fiji Sugar Corporation; and

·         The ICT Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Fiji International Telecommunications Limited;

The Chief Executive Officer FTIB, Mrs Annie Rogers urged exporters to make use of the services provided by FTIB and assured them that FTIB staff will be ready to facilitate queries to the best of their abilities particularly in enhancing existing markets or penetrating into new markets.

A new development this year is the introduction of the Hall of Fame Award sponsored by TFL which is open to all category and overall winners for the past five years.

The Bureau has commenced registering interests from those exporters intending to apply for this year’s awards.

For more information, please contact Ms Kelera Cavuilati or Mr Mohammed Zoher on 3315988 or email queries to eya2009@ftib.org.fj

FTIB