Victoria is celebrating the enormous contribution exporters make to the state with applications opening today for the prestigious Governor of Victoria Export Awards.
Victoria State Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis announced the opening of applications at Parliament House on 23 May, addressing commissioners from Victoria’s global network of trade and investment offices and representatives from some of the state’s best export companies.
This will be the 37th year of the Governor of Victoria Export Awards, which celebrate the innovation and hard work of exporters across a range of sectors – providing a great opportunity for companies to raise their domestic and international profile. They are open to Victorian exporters across a range of nationally recognised categories including: agribusiness, business services, creative industries, digital technologies, eCommerce, education and training, environment, health and biotechnology, manufacturing, minerals, energy and regional development.
There are a further three Victorian-specific categories made up of the Victorian Exporter of the Year, Victorian Export Award for Innovation Excellence and the Victorian Women in International Business Award. Winners of the national categories are automatically entered into the 54th Australian Export Awards as national finalists with the opportunity to grow their international footprint even further.
For the last three years running, a GOVEA winner has gone on to win the Australian Exporter of the Year award cementing Victoria’s reputation as the country’s leading exporter.
Victorian exports make a crucial contribution to the economy with total exports of goods and services in 2014-15 rising 4.8 per cent to a record $39.4bn. Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AM is the patron of the Awards.
“These awards are a great way to recognise the hard work of our exporting businesses across a range of different industries throughout greater Melbourne and regional Victoria,” said Dalidakis. “We’re leading the country in small business growth and exports and these awards give us to opportunity to provide these businesses with the recognition they deserve for taking the very best of Victoria to the world.”
The application period for the Governor of Victoria Export Awards runs until 31 July.