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 acknowledge that 2020 has been a challenging year for all industries.
“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 and retain employment levels, as well as their plans to recover to pre-COVID turnover levels.
“I would 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 introduces a new category for the Exporter of the Year Awards: the Transnet Emerging Exporter Award, for companies which 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 include 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, August 20. It will be the 26th year that the Exporter of the Year Awards will have been hosted.
- The entry form can be downloaded from the Exporters Eastern Cape website at www.exportersec.co.za. The closing date for entries is June 2, 2021. Entrants should submit the completed entry form with relevant documentation, photos and logo to Suzanne Vermeulen, Exporters Eastern Cape branch coordinator, at info@exportersec.co.za by the closing date.
