GMA Garnet stands out at Australian Export Awards

GMA Garnet Pty Ltd stood out last night at Austrade's Australian export awards by taking the first price in the Minerals Council of Australia's Minerals and Energy category.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore was inducted during the evening into the Australian Export Awards Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognises companies that have achieved international business success at the highest level over many years and that have won their Australian Export Award category three times.

Full announcement pasted below:

Awards recognise export success of Australian business

The winners of the 2007 Australian Export Awards were announced tonight in Brisbane before a high-profile business audience. [Full winners list below]

The Australian Export Awards are one of the country's most prestigious business award programs and recognise the outstanding international business achievements of companies, including the naming of the overall DHL Australian Exporter of the Year.

Speaking at the 45th annual Australian Export Awards ceremony, Austrade CEO, Peter O'Byrne, congratulated the 12 category Award winners as well as Cochlear Limited which took out the top honours as 2007 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year.

Cochlear Limited is a global leader in the research and development, manufacture and marketing of implantable hearing solutions. Today, the company has a 70 per cent share of the global market, employs more than 1,700 people worldwide and exports to more than 90 countries.

In addition to announcing this year's Award winners, two outstanding Australian exporters, Ausenco and Rio Tinto Iron Ore, were inducted during the evening into the Australian Export Awards Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognises companies that have achieved international business success at the highest level over many years and that have won their Australian Export Award category three times.

Ausenco specialises in the engineering, procurement, construction management, project management, commissioning and operation of mineral processing plants. The company operates with an installed capital value of over US$2.7billion in 33 countries covering the processing of minerals to produce gold, copper, nickel, silver, cobalt, lead, zinc, uranium and minerals sands.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore is the world's second largest supplier of iron ore, with 11 mines, a heavy-haul rail network, two ports and supporting power and infrastructure in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The group has iron ore operations in Canada and Brazil, and new projects in Guinea, West Africa, and in India.

Austrade CEO, Peter O'Byrne said tonight's winners as well as the two new Hall of Fame members provide outstanding examples of the committed and innovative enterprises that are driving Australia's record export performance.

"In addition to paying tribute to the achievements of tonight's winners, I'd like to recognise the important contribution made by all the companies that are finalists here tonight. To reach the national Australian Export Awards each of these businesses has been a winner in its state or territory export awards program," Mr O'Byrne said.

"Last financial year, Australian businesses generated a record $215 billion in export earnings for the country. The 79 businesses that are finalists in these Awards generated $11.6 billion in export sales last year and directly employed more than 38,500 people.

"While Australia's traditional strengths in resources and agriculture remain major contributors to our export performance, the broad range of companies and sectors represented at these Awards reflect the increasing diversity of Australia's export businesses.

"Operating in markets around the world and offering an extraordinary range of products, these inspiring Australian enterprises are growing and prospering because they have what it takes to succeed in international markets - seeking opportunities, building partnerships, and winning new customers," Mr O'Byrne said.

Presented by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Export Awards celebrate the business excellence of Australian exporters and highlights the important contribution the international business success of these businesses makes towards growing the economic prosperity enjoyed by all Australians.

WINNERS OF 2007 AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS

2007 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year
Cochlear (NSW)

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Agribusiness
Boundary Bend Limited (VIC)

Austrade - Arts, Entertainment And Design
Imagination Entertainment (SA)

TradeStart - Education
Flight Training Adelaide Pty Ltd (SA)

AusIndustry - Emerging Exporter
Unistraw International Limited (NSW)

Ernst & Young - Information and Communication Technology
Bravura Solutions Limited (NSW)

Caterpillar - Australian Made - Large Advanced Manufacturer
Cochlear Limited (NSW)

Minerals Council of Australia - Minerals And Energy
GMA Garnet Pty Ltd (WA)

Australian Business International Trade Services - Regional Exporter
Russell Mineral Equipment Pty Ltd (QLD)

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation - Services
Macquarie Bank Limited (NSW)

CPA Australia Limited - Small Business
Callidan Instruments (QLD)

Commonwealth Bank - Small to Medium Manufacturer
Liferaft Systems Australia Pty Ltd (TAS)

ACCOR - Sports Events And Tourism
BridgeClimb, Sydney (NSW)