Canberra the `smart' capital

Business Asia, Sept 30, 1999

The 1999 ACT and Region Export Awards Dinner, held at the Great Hall, Parliament House, provided an opportunity for companies to showcase excellence and innovation in export performance.

THE WINNERS

* The Australian Capital Territory is fast establishing itself as a region with outstanding strengths in smart, clean industries.

Protocom Development Systems Pty Ltd, winner of the prestigious ACT & Region Exporter of the Year and Information Industries Awards, is evidence of this phenomenon.

Founded in 1989 and incorporated in 1993, this multinational corporation, which specialises in IT security enforcement, has quickly gained a reputation for developing world-class global IT security software solutions.

Originally from Melbourne, Protocom relocated to Canberra in 1993 and has continued to expand in the national capital.

* Inland Trading, winner of the Emerging Exporter Award, was recognised for its innovative e-commerce strategies in developing connections between markets and suppliers of boutique Australian wines. In addition, Inland Trading is contracted to supply wine to Malaysian Airlines, presenting an ideal opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Asian region.

* The University of Canberra, with its impressive record in attracting students from the Asian region, took out the Education Award. A commitment to implementing international strategies and developing support structures for international students greatly impressed the judging panel.

* ECOWISE Environmental, winner of the Services Award, was rewarded for its impressive growth in working with Australian companies doing business internationally. ECOWISE provides specialised hydrology and laboratory services and has managed environmental issues through a range of strategic alliances.

* The award for Small to Medium Manufacturers was won by National Recording Studio (NRS), which impressed the judging panel with its strong growth in export earnings, extensive market testing and business development models. NRS provides professional experience in audio and video production to a wide and diverse network of national and international clients. The complete production facility and services centre is based in Canberra, but this does not limit the company's production scope.

* The ACT and Region Awards introduced a new category in 1999 to recognise the important contribution made by supporting exporters. Precision Metals, which specialises in contract manufacturing, was the inaugural recipient of the Supporting Exporter Award. Precision Metals designs, develops and manufactures a range of products for exporter companies, including laser cut and turret punched components, which are highly favoured by IT manufacturers and systems integrators.

The Awards, proudly sponsored by the ACT Government and Australian Business, were an outstanding success, providing Canberra region exporters the opportunity to showcase their talents. ACT winners now look forward to the 1999 Australian Export Awards Gala Dinner in December.