Australia’s top exporters recognised

The Liberal-National Government would like to congratulate Aspen Medical and SEAPA who have been awarded the prestigious Australian Exporter of the Year award.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham announced the 2018 Australian Export Award winners at a ceremony in Canberra last night.

"Aspen Medical and SEAPA are two great Australian business success stories," Minister Birmingham said.

"This is an outstanding achievement by two Australian companies that started as small grassroots operations and are now global businesses exporting their high-quality products and services to the world.

"They exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation and I hope they can inspire thousands of other small businesses out there to take a punt and become exporters."

Aspen Medical, which also won the Health and Biotechnology Award, provides primary healthcare, emergency healthcare, training, consultancy, medical evacuations and clinics in 16 countries on three continents.Over the past 12 months alone Aspen has doubled its number of employees.

The ACT-based business achieved a world first in 2017–18 when it became the only commercial company in the world contracted by the World Health Organization to deliver clinical services in Iraq.

SEAPA is a South Australian business that is revolutionising the oyster farming industry with its injection-moulded plastic baskets and farming systems.

SEAPA began exporting to North America in 2001, and its export markets have grown to include Europe and North Asia, where its technology is helping to grow better quality oysters at lower costs.

Minister Birmingham said this year's awards recognise the enormous contribution exporters make to Australia with the 88 finalists employing over 21,000 Australians generating more than $2 billion in export sales.

"This year's finalists export a variety of high quality Australian goods and services from biometrics consulting to lace wedding gowns, aerospace components to essential oils, thermoplastic horse shoes and vaccines for HIV," Minister Birmingham said.

"Exports create more Australian jobs and strengthen our economy. That's why the Liberal-National Government continues to provide more opportunities for our exporters to secure new market access across the globe.

"Australian businesses that export hire 23 per cent more staff, pay 11 per cent higher wages and have labour productivity that is 13 per cent higher than non-exporting firms.

"Congratulations to all of this year's winners and finalists for the significant contribution you make to our economy. You should be truly proud of your achievements."

Inpex was also awarded the Trade Tourism and Investment Minister's Investment Award for their Ichthys LNG project which is expected to create 1800 jobs on average per year over the next 40 years and generate $195 billion in exports.

For more information on all of this year's winners and finalists go to: https://www.exportawards.gov.au/