Sunshine Coast businesses are finalists across two categories in the 30thPremier of Queensland's Export Awards, alongside 42 other leading exporters.
Two #healthysmartcreative Sunshine Coast businesses are vying for three awards across the Regional Exporter and Manufacturing and Advanced Materials categories – up against five other exporters from around the State.
HeliMods is a finalist for the second year in a row, after a 2018 nomination for the Dermot McManus Award for Innovation.
This year, HeliMods has been nominated across two categories – Regional Exporter and Manufacturing and Advanced Materials.
"We are excited to be nominated across two major export categories this year, which is a great reflection and recognition of our rapid growth into international markets," said Will Shrapnel, HeliMods Founder and Managing Director.
"We're proud to be able to showcase the specialist capability we develop right here on the Sunshine Coast to the global marketplace and look forward to continuing on our exciting growth journey ahead."
Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) is hoping to bring home the Regional Exporter Award for its world-class commercial aquariums.
For the past 20 years AAT's focus has been on pioneering the techniques and technologies required to design and build ever-more inspiring aquariums all over the world.
AAT CEO John Langmead said the team was proud to have been selected as a finalist for the 2019 Premier's Export Awards and it was just-recognition for recent work.
"We have over the past 12 months completed, or have major projects underway, in Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand, UAE, Oman, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Belgium, Poland and Greece," Mr Langmead said.
"While the travel sounds exhausting, it is the vision of sharing the message of ocean conservation around the world that keeps the business focused on its performance.
"With local expansion on the horizon again, we hope to be recognised as a regional exporter for many years to come," he said.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson congratulated both HeliMods and AAT on their achievements and noted their export success highlighted the great business environment and opportunities that existed on the Sunshine Coast.
"Exporting is one of the keys to future economic prosperity on the Sunshine Coast and our Regional Economic Development Strategy aims for 20 per cent of locally produced goods and services to be available for export by 2033," Mayor Jamieson said.
"To help achieve this goal, council delivers a Local to Global program incorporating export programs and networking events, access to exhibitions and missions and pathways to State and Federal contacts and programs."
"HeliMods and AAT are outstanding examples of the contemporary and innovative businesses that operate on the Sunshine Coast.
HeliMods and AAT join a long and successful list of recent Queensland export award winners and finalists from the Sunshine Coast including Aussie Red Crab, Australia Zoo, Buderim Ginger, Gourmet Garden, Typefi and Walker Seafoods.
Queensland has around 7300 exporting companies, which sold $87 billion worth of goods to the rest of the world in 2018–19. It is understood that 40 per cent of the State's exporters are based in regional Queensland.
The Premier of Queensland's Export Awards 2019 will be held in Brisbane City Hall on 10 October where the finalists will be announced. Queensland export award winners will vie for the national title in Canberra on 3 December.
Visit www.exportawards.qld.gov.au
