Export Awards showcase Australia’s global entrepreneurs

I am proud to announce 81finalists in the 54th Australian Export Awards, which recognise success intaking Australian innovation to the world.

The awards highlight theinternational business success of Australian companies based on export growth,marketing and financial strategies.

This year's finalists represent adiverse cross section of businesses ranging from family-owned firms to largelisted corporations, including many in the growing field of services exports.

Together, they generated morethan $12.3 billion in export sales in 2015–16 and employed more than 34,500people. Businesses like these are driving Australia's successful transition toa post-mining boom economy.

They represent the best we haveto offer and their products include everything from sports technology toindigenous-designed fashion accessories, naval architecture, specialistmanufacturing equipment, e-commerce platforms and cyber security.

Nearly 40 per cent of finalistsare classified as small businesses with 20 staff or less, and 53 per centgenerate more than half their revenue from exports.

Although they are active inalmost every corner of the globe, their largest export markets are the UnitedStates and China. More than 60 per cent identified at least one of the new FTAmarkets of China, Japan or Korea as a key market.

National finalists are thecategory winners in their state or territory export award program.

The national winners will beannounced at a ceremony in Brisbane on Thursday 24 November 2016. One of themwill also be named the Australian Exporter of the Year.

The winner of the inauguralMinister for Trade, Tourism and Investment's Investment Award will also beannounced at this year's Awards ceremony.

The Australian Export Awards are co-presented byAustrade, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and CPAAustralia. A full list of finalists canbe viewed here: www.exportawards.gov.au/Finalists/2016