Debtset – Bailiff-Sheriff Aust MEMBER Login
Swift Australia is Qld's top exporter
Swift Australia won the 2010 Queensland Exporter of the Year Award at the 21st Premier of Queensland Export Awards staged recently at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Based at Riverview, Ipswich, Swift Australia is Australia's largest meat packer and exporter. Swift also won the Agribusiness award over finalists Queensland Sugar Limited (Brisbane City) and Australian Agriculture Company (Milton)
"(Swift Australia) employs 8,500 people, and exports its meat products to 35 countries including Japan, the United States, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, the Philippines, Canada, and the United Kingdom," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said.
Swift Australia director and manager Jean Carlo Dilly said, "Swift Australia is proud of its export strategy. This requires continual product innovation, proactive marketing and a focus on broadening market access.
"The Queensland Government is export focused and we value the wealth of experience and continued assistance of Trade and Investment Queensland and the overseas trade offices," Mr Carlo Dilly said.
Arts and Entertainment winner was multiple award winner Cutting Edge Post (South Brisbane) over finalists Battlefield Sports (Clifton Beach, Cairns) and Village Roadshow Studios (Coomera).
Yeahpoint Pty Ltd (Brisbane City) which develops onsite digital retailing systems for some of the world's biggest mname brands, won the Information and Communications Technology Award over finalists EM Solutions Pty Ltd (Yeronga) and international enterrpsie software developer Technology One Ltd (Fortitude Valley).
Small to Medium Manufacturer Award winner was Centor Holdings of Eagle Farm, which had a week before taken out the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Business Awards. Finalists were BSD Robotics, a Luminex company, based at Acacia Ridge and MineWare of Milton.
However, MineWare went on to win the Emerging Exporter Award later in the night over finalists ecospecifier Pty Ltd (Morningside) and Maryborough Sugar Factory Limited of Maryborough.
Griffith University, with campuses at Nathan, South Bank and Gold Coast, won theEducation and Training Award over the Queensland University of Technology International Projects Unit (Brisbane) andSkillsTech Australia, which has campuses at Acacia Ridge, Alexandra Hills, Bracken Ridge, Eagle Farm, Ithaca, Mt Gravatt, Salisbury and Yeronga.
Xstrata Mount Isa Mines (Mount Isa) was the Premier's Export Award winner for theMinerals and Energy category. Finalists were Ludowici Ltd (Pinkenba) and Sedgman Limited (Milton).
Sedgman went on to win the Large Services category, over finalists Xstrata Technology Pty Ltd (Brisbane) and Griffith University.
Small to Medium Services winner was Place Design Group of Fortitude Valley, getting the nod over finalists JKTech Pty Ltd (Indooroopilly) and Hydrobiology QLD Pty Ltd (Milton)
Small Business winner was ecospecifier Pty Ltd with other category finalists Asia Pacific ASA Pty Ltd (Gold Coast) and GBI Mining Intelligence (Eight Mile Plains).
Cook Australia, also headquartered at Eight Mile Plains, won the Large Advanced Manufacturer category over finalists Ludowici and Swift Australia.
Regional Exporter of the Year winner was Hervey Bay Whale Watch (Hervey Bay, over finalists Becker Helicopters Pty Ltd (Marcoola, Sunshine Coast) and Capricorn Sandstone Quarries (Rockhampton)
However,Becker Helicopters went on to win the Dermot McManus Award, named after the late Queensland Trade Commissioner.
The Richard Joel Young Export Entrepreneur winner, named after the late founder of the former Brisbane Office of Economic Development, was Alan McCabe of Fern Software (Brisbane).
TheTom Burns Award for growing exports to Asia markets, named after the late State Labor Leader and trade advocate, was won by Capricorn Sandstone Quarries of Rockhampton.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's Special Award went to Professor Arun Sharma.
"I also wish winners of the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards all the best as they progress as finalists in the Australian Export Awards. The national winners and finalists will be announced in Sydney on December 1," Ms Bligh said.
"In 2009-10 the value of Queensland's merchandise exports were worth more $42.7billion dollars to Queensland's economy," Ms Bligh said.
"We know that exporting is vital to Queensland's economy and jobs. And we need to continue to look beyond our borders, to grow established relationships and develop new markets to enable our world-class industries to expand and create new jobs.
"The Premier of Queensland's Export Awards, presented each year during Queensland's Export Week, recognise the achievements and capabilities of the State's export businesses and industries. The awards give our excellent exporters due congratulation and reward for their efforts overseas, further establishing Queensland as a reliable global supplier of quality export products and services."
