Innovation and Success Celebrated at AmCham Awards

Innovation and Success Celebrated at AmCham Business awards

New Zealand innovation and imagination in developing new world beating technology products and services shine through in 4th Annual American Chamber of Commerce Success & Innovation awards. The finalists are diverse and include specialist software for the health sector, baggage handling equipment, high technology products for the timber industry through to the marketers of popcorn.

"The awards celebrate business entrepreneurship, innovation and success in building business and trade between New Zealand and the USA," says Michael Stanley, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. "The United States is our second largest trading partner and the potential is ripe to grow the relationship significantly.

"American investors are interested in New Zealand as a hotbed for new ideas in a range of sectors from new technology, healthcare systems, biotechnology, agricultural products and telecommunications. AmCham, with a healthy membership of leading corporates and new businesses from both sides of the Pacific, has a contact and information network well positioned to help exporters and importers grow the opportunities.

"These awards recognise the potential of building bilateral business ties in diverse areas and celebrate New Zealand and American importers' and exporters' innovation and success in cracking the market," Mr Stanley said. The contest has been narrowed down to 11 finalists for exporter of the year to the United States for goods, services and technology and new and evolving export businesses as well as for importer of the year from the United States. The finalist are: Importer of the Year from the USA: 3M New Zealand Ltd Pop'n'Good Popcorn Ltd

Exporter of the Year to the USA - Goods: Glidepath Ltd Compac Sorting Ltd Criterion Group Ltd

Exporter of the Year to the USA - Services & Technology Orion Systems International Pulse Data Software of Excellence

Exporter of the Year to the USA - New & Evolving Advanced Traffic Supplies Fibre-Gen Icebreaker Ltd

The above Award winners receive a return business class airfare to Los Angeles on Air New Zealand along with other prizes.

Awards are also given to acknowledge and celebrate the US investor of the year, contribution to tourism and member of AmCham, which promotes bilateral and Pacific Rim business, trade and investment. These are: Investor of the Year from the USA Brunswick Corporation General Electric Julian Robinson/Kauri Cliffs

Contribution to Tourism with USA Cruise New Zealand Newman's South Pacific Vacations The Royal Tour - Project Manager - Tourism New Zealand

The awards are sponsored by AmCham in conjunction with Air New Zealand. Other sponsors include past winners Peace Software and ZESPRI International as well as AIG, Baldwin Shelston Waters, CitiGroup, Ernst and Young, Fesco, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, UPS Worldwide Services and the Sheraton Auckland.

The awards dinner will be held at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers on August 27 with Prime Minster Helen Clark presenting the Export Awards.

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