The Queensland government has officially launched the 2023 Queensland Export Awards to honour the state’s best exporters across various categories from agribusiness to professional services and manufacturing.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the rollout of the annual awards today, encouraging Queensland’s top exporters to enter the awards.
Applications for nominees are slated to open on 2 May and will be closed on 9 June.
First held more than 30 years ago, the annual awards currently honour the state’s top exporters across 13 national categories and two state-based ones.
The awards ceremony includes categories for the Small Business Award, Regional Exporter Award and Emerging Exporter Award, enabling exporters of all sizes to compete.
A First Nations category will also be presented for the first time.
According to Premier Palaszczuk, one out of five jobs in Queensland are linked to the export sector, with the state’s regions playing a huge role with around 40 per cent of more than 7,000 exporting businesses based in regional Qld.
“Queensland is well and truly out front when it comes to exports and these awards are an opportunity for the hard work, perseverance and achievements of entrants to be acknowledged and honoured,” Palaszczuk said.
Businesses nominated for the awards will be judged by a panel of experienced business leaders from across industry with winners named at an Awards Galla in Brisbane in October.
Palaszczuk unveiled the Queensland Export Awards during her visit to last year’s top winner Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
The company won the major Queensland Exporter of the Year Award in October 2022 after also winning the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages category.
“From humble beginnings, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks has grown from a local Bundy business to a Queensland icon, and now an award-winning exporter on the world stage. Demonstrating a combination of primary and value-add industries that are critical to the region, they are a significant local employer of more than 260 Bundy workers,” said Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith.
For further information on the awards, visit exportawards.qld.gov.au.
