I recently had the privilege of travelling to the United States with a contingent of local businesses on a trade mission. For me, this trip further highlighted the international competitiveness of ACT businesses and the ongoing potential for Canberra companies to become global exporters.
The exceptional quality of goods produced in the ACT has resulted in worldwide sales; while innovative ACT businesses have captured markets with niche products and services that meet a demand here and overseas.
At the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards Ceremony held on 22 October 2015, we got to honour some of our local success stories.
The Export Awards recognise outstanding businesses in both ACT and national categories. Winners in the national categories will go on to compete at the Australian Export Awards later this month.
The following businesses took out a top prize in the ACT categories:
Exporting Government Solutions: Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint has been exporting since 2011 and developed new markets and products last year that helped grow its export revenue by 53 per cent.
Exporting to Asia: ONTHEGO Sports
Founded in 2010, ONTHEGO offers high quality custom sportswear at a revolutionary price and service, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. For every product sold, one child in a developing part of Australia and the Pacific is engaged into sport for one year through its community arm.
Capital District Exporter: Shaw Vineyards
A family owned wine producer of cool climate wines, Shaw Vineyards is targeting 70 per cent of its total wine production as export sales. It is focused on Asia and its main markets include China and Singapore. It is continuing to expand its markets to include Japan and India.
Emerging Exporter Category: Red Robot and Cogito Group
Two Canberra businesses were recognised under this category. ICT company Cogito Group is a cyber security expert that is working to expand its global reach. Since 2011, Red Robot has grown from a small domestic
supplier into the largest manufacturer and exporter of photo booths in the southern hemisphere.
In the national categories the winners were:
Agribusiness: Inland Trading
Inland Trading is a Canberra based wine export company whose collection of premium Australia wine includes some of the best labels in the world. In 2014-15,it exported more than 360,000 cases of wine to 53 world markets. It recently became a major Australian supplier of the third biggest supermarket operation in the world and has won three contracts to supply Singapore Airlines.
Business Services: Noetic Group
This award-winning international consulting firm provides professional services to a range of government and private sectors in Australia and overseas. It has worked on all continents, but is particularly focused on opportunities in the Middle East, PNG and Timor Leste and the United States where it has experienced substantial growth over the last year.
Creative Industries: WildBear
WildBear Entertainment experienced a five-fold growth in export revenue in 2014-15,demonstrating strong international demand for its films and television productions.
Education and Training: iSimulate
During the 2015 financial year, iSimulate’s export sales of its health/medical simulation technology doubled. It currently has customers in 31 countries.
Health and Biotechnology: Aspen Medical
Aspen Medical exports Australian standard healthcare to remote, challenging and under-resourced environments. In 2014-15, its export revenue grew by 73 per cent.
Information and Communication Technology: DAMsmart
Since its inception in 2007, DAMsmart has developed into one of the APAC region’s largest and most experienced specialist content digitisation and preservation agencies.
Manufacturing: Frameskin
Frameskin’s custom-shaped frame protection for the bicycle industry has been sold in 30 countries.
Online Sales: mHITS
mHITS began as Australia’s first and only mobile money service allowing payments to be sent and received by SMS text message. It has since evolved to focus on low value cross- border mobile money transfers specifically to emerging markets for those people who do not have a bank account.
Small Business: IE Asia Pacific
Established in 2009, IE Asia Pacific provides products, services and solutions to increase revenue, improve detection and safety, and reduce costs for civil and defence air traffic management sectors in Australia, Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore and Germany.
ACT Exporter of the Year
Aspen Medical, which recently led Australia’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, was named ACT Exporter of the Year with special mention for iSimulate and WildBear.
Congratulations to all our winners and good luck to everyone competing in the 2015 Australian Export Awards.
Join us at the Canberra Business Chamber
Annual Gala Dinner.
Date: 18 November 2015
Time: 7 pm
Location: QT Canberra
For more information or to book a seat, visit
www.canberrabusiness.com/events
Robyn Hendry, CEO
Canberra Business Chamber
www.canberrabusiness.com
