More time
to prepare
applications
From left: Vodafone Fiji director Business and Corporate Markets, Ronald Dass, Westpac Fiji head of Marketing, Nirmala Nambiar and Investment Fiji chairman, Truman Bradley hold out Westpac’s sponsorship cheque for the 2013 Vodafone & Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards at the Holdiay Inn Suva last night. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
By RACHNA LAL
Preparations for the 2013 Vodafone and Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards have started early.
The prestigious awards, which will be staged in November, were launched last night at the Holiday Inn Suva by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Investment Fiji chief executive, Ravuni Uluilakeba, said they decided to launch the awards earlier than last year to allow a wider window for companies to prepare and submit applications.
He said an event of such dimension cannot happen overnight.
“The wheels have started rolling as it requires meticulous planning and execution,” he said.
“A total of eleven awards will be given out this year, emphasising mainly on the growing sectors of the Fijian economy.
“There are a number of players in the market that fall within the respective categories the event is promoting this year.”
Therefore, Investment Fiji is anticipating over hundred applications this year.
“With eleven awards up for grabs this year, we hope to receive more than ten applications in each of these sectors,” Mr Uluilakeba said.
Last year, a total of 110 applications were submitted from 50 different companies.
“Each company had the opportunity to apply under one or more different categories,” he said.
Surprise elements
Mr Uluilakeba said the 2013 Organising Committee has planned various activities to stage it differently this year.
“The theme for this year is ‘Expanding beyond the horizons of Fiji’, which pretty much sums what Investment Fiji is trying to achieve through the awards,” he said.
“There is a lot more, that I cannot comment on as yet, we would like to leave it as surprise elements.
“You need to buy a ticket, support and attend the event to find out what’s different this year.”
Award benefits
Mr Uluilakeba said the benefit of these awards is simply that winning such a prestigious award differentiates you from the rest of the companies competing with yours.
“Your product becomes the Prime Minister’s Award recipient which says a lot about your product and your company,” he said.
“It becomes a selling point to international buyers, the recognition you receive is something that stays with your company for life.
“We have seen past winners using the Exporter of the Year Award logo on their product packaging.
“It gives us a proud feeling when we see it on local and international shelves – the logo is a statement towards your success.”