Forty-four of the state's leading exporters have been named finalists in this year's Premier of Queensland's Export Awards.
This year's finalists include businesses from the Gold Coast to Far North Queensland, and showcase the diversity of Queensland's export sectors across 16 different categories.
Finalists and winners from previous years are well represented, including Circa Contemporary Circus (finalist – Creative Industries); Australian Language Schools (finalist – International Education and Training); and earthmoving machinery manufacturers Digga Australia, (finalist – Dermot McManus Award for Innovation; also Manufacturing and Advanced Materials).
They are joined by companies named finalists for the first time, including industrial mathematics firm Polymathian (finalist – Technology and Innovation); bikini manufacturer Moana Lifestyle (finalist – E-Commerce); and 'superfoods' producer Natural Evolution (finalist – Sustainability; also Emerging Exporter).
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated Queensland's export achievers.
"Queensland has around 7,300 goods exporting companies of which 40 per cent are based in regional Queensland and in total sold $87 billion of goods to the rest of the world in 2018–19," the Premier said.
"That's larger than New South Wales and Victoria combined.
"Every exporter across Queensland who is putting time and energy into growing their overseas markets is also helping to grow the Queensland economy and support local communities.
"Around one in five Queensland jobs is supported by export income."
Trade and Investment Queensland CEO Paul Martyn said it was a pleasure to honour Queensland's export companies.
"It's a pleasure for Trade and Investment Queensland to coordinate the export awards each year, and to give the state's export achievers the recognition they deserve," he said.
Winners in this year's awards will be announced at the Premier of Queensland's Export Awards Gala at Brisbane City Hall on Thursday 10 October.
Guests at the black-tie Gala will include leaders from government, business and Queensland's export community, including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and TIQ's 12 overseas trade commissioners.
Visit www.exportawards.qld.gov.au
