2008 program in full swing

The winners of each of the eight State and Territory Export Awards have been announced, and each of the 84 winners automatically progress as national finalists in the 2008 Australian Export Awards.

These businesses from across Australia are nominated to win in one of 13 national categories:

• Agribusiness

• Arts and Entertainment
• Education and Training
• Emerging Exporter
• Information and Communication Technology
• Large Advanced Manufacturer
• Large Services
• Minerals and Energy
• Regional Exporter
• Small Business
• Small to Medium Manufacturer
• Small to Medium Services
• Sports, Events and Tourism.

One of these category winners will also be chosen as the inaugural Prime Minister's Australian Exporter of the Year.

The 2008 national winners will be announced at a national awards presentation in Melbourne on Friday, 5 December, hosted by the Minister for Trade, the Hon Simon Crean MP.

This year, the Prime Minister’s Australian Exporter of the Year award will be presented by the guest of honour, Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.

The Australian Export Awards program is co-presented by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  The Awards recognise Australian businesses for excellence and achievement in exporting and profile the 'best of the best' enterprises in exporting around the nation.

Minister for Trade launches 2008 Awards program

The 2008 Australian Export Awards program was officially launched in Adelaide - along with the the Business SA Export Awards - by the Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, and South Australian Deputy Premier, Kevin Foley.

• Tasmanian companies compete for national export awards (Parliamentary Secretary) (17 November 2008) 
• ACT companies compete for national export awards (Parliamentary Secretary) (12 November 2008)
• Australian Export Awards Finalists Winning on the World Stage (Minister Crean - 7 November 2008) 
• Top End launches Australian Export Awards program (Austrade - 8 July 2008)
• Exporting doyens share wisdoms at Australian Export Awards event (Austrade - 30 June 2008)
• Australian exporters learn from the best (Austrade - 23 June 2008)
• Australian exporters honoured at Parliament House (Minister Crean - 23 June 2008)
• 2008 Australia Export Awards Recognise Excellence in International Business (Minister Crean - 21 May 2008)
•  Opening of the 2008 South Australian and Australian Export Awards (Minister Crean speech - 21 May 2008)
• Australian Export Awards launch supplement (The Australian - 21 May 2008 -  Note: 2.4 MB PDF opens in new window hosted by www.exportawards.gov.au)

Contact for media

Emma Bailey
Media and Communications Advisor, Australian Export Awards
+61 2 9390 2057
+ 61 414 969 348

Success stories 

	Tassie pitch for UK defence contract   Tasmanian business Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) last year secured $10 million in exports to various passenger ferry operators and navies around the world and are on track to secure a $6 million deal with the UK Ministry of Defence.
	Top honours in export education Box Hill Institute of TAFE's winnning the Education Award at the Governor of Victoria Export Awards was soon followed by collecting the national Microsoft Education Award at  the 2006 Australian Export Awards.
	Online information management company wins award Aconex, winner of the 2006 Emerging Exporter Award, now has offices in more than 30 countries and is one of the world’s largest providers of online collaboration for the construction and engineering industries.
	ResMed named 2006 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year World-leading medical device manufacturer ResMed won the Large Advanced Manufacturer Award and the Australian Exporter of the Year at the 2006 Australian Export Awards.
	Appen not speechless after winning export award Sydney-based ICT business Appen Pty Ltd is capitalising on its 2005 Australian Export Award to help business both domestically and overseas, by strengthening relationships with existing and targeted customers.
	Australian Export Award opens doors for Rofin Winning its category in the prestigious 2005 Australian Export Awards has added to the excellent reputation built over 20 years by scientific instrument developer and manufacturer Rofin Australia.
	Agribusiness award enhances credibility for Mulwarra Mulwarra Export continues to attract recognition for its performance as a supplier of Australian meats, seafood, game and cheeses to markets throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Russia.
	Export award tops winning year for GroundProbe For Queensland mining and civil engineering technology company GroundProbe, winning a 2005 Australian Export Award capped a big year of recognition for the business.

2007 news

• Australian Export Awards finalsists announced (Thursday, 22 November 2007)
• Australia's 'Quiet achievers' are going global (Economists's Corner - 12 November 2007) 
• Australian Export Awards finalists announced (7 November 2007)   
• Top Exporters share success as Awards announced across Australia (8 October 2007)
• Australia’s top exporters in Melbourne (16 August 2007)
• Australian Export Awards celebrate 45 years in recognition of Australia’s best exporters (2 May 2007)