Entries have opened for Exporters Eastern Cape’s prestigious Exporter of the Year Awards 2021 and this year the focus will be on showcasing exporters’ achievements despite the challenges of 2020.
Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman Quintin Levey said the organisers of the awards acknowledges that 2020 has been a challenging year for all industries, with the effects of the lockdown and loss of disposable income in the hands of the consumer negatively impacting the revenue of exporters, and service providers to the export industry.
“When judging this year’s entries, we will be focusing on the innovative initiatives our entrants have put in place during these trying times to manage costs and cash flows, retain employment levels, and their plans to recover to pre-Covid turnover levels.
“I would therefore like to encourage all exporters and service providers to enter Exporter of the Year 2021, and not see the effects of Covid-19 on their business as a deterrent to enter, but rather as an opportunity to showcase their achievements, entrepreneurial flair and export innovation during these challenging times,” said Levey.
This year, Exporters EC is introducing a new category for the Exporter of the Year Awards: the Transnet Emerging Exporter Award for companies that have been exporting for three years or less.
Other categories include the SJM Flex Environmental Award; the IDC Job Creation Award; Best Provider of Services to Exporters; Best Exporter: Small Business; Best Exporter: Medium Enterprises; Best Exporter: Corporate Category and Best Exporter: OEM. The Overall Exporter of the Year is chosen from these category winners.
Judging criteria includes qualitative and quantitative data, which are thoroughly assessed by an independent panel of judges and the winners are announced at a gala event planned for Friday, 20 August. It will be the 26th year that the Exporter of the Year Awards is hosted.
The entry form can be downloaded from the Exporters Eastern Cape website at www.exportersec.co.za or email Suzanne Vermeulen, Exporters Eastern Cape Branch Coordinator, at info@exportersec.co.za.
The closing date for entries is 2 June 2021.
All entrants need to submit the completed entry form with relevant documentation, photos and logo to Suzanne Vermeulen at info@exportersec.co.za before the closing date.
Last year’s awards event was a special milestone for the organisation, who celebrated 40 years of existence in the Eastern Cape. It was also the first year that the Exporter of the Year Awards was hosted online with an interactive live event.
S4 Development Services achieved the title of Overall Winner at the Exporter of the Year Awards 2020, and also walked away with the IDC Job Creation Merit Award and was announced the Best Exporter Medium Enterprise Winner.
Exporters Eastern Cape is a non-profit organisation for members involved in exporting – either directly or indirectly – and represents a broad spectrum of large and smaller export companies, freight forwarders, financial institutions, and shipping lines in the Eastern Cape.
For more information, contact Exporters Eastern Cape Branch Coordinator, Suzanne Vermeulen at info@exportersec.co.za.