The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched its Exporter of the Year Awards for 2013. The Chamber, in collaboration with its major sponsor partner, Transnet Port Terminals, will expand its export promotion programme this year by featuring the Awards annual Gala Dinner on 30 October as the highlight in a week of seminars and other events which, in conjunction with TIKZN, will be aimed at stimulating export activity, especially among small and medium businesses.

1. All correspondence to be addressed to: P.O. Box 1506, Durban, 4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Tel: 27 031 335 1000, Fax: 27 031 332 1288
Chamber House, 190 Stalwart Simelane Street, Durban, 4001
e-mail:chamber@durbanchamber.co.za
Website:www.durbanchamber.co.za
MEDIA RELEASE
PROMOTING EXPORTS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY
The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched its Exporter of the Year
Awards for 2013.
The Chamber, in collaboration with its major sponsor partner, Transnet Port Terminals, will
expand its export promotion programme this year by featuring the Awards annual Gala
Dinner on 30 October as the highlight in a week of seminars and other events which, in
conjunction with TIKZN, will be aimed at stimulating export activity, especially among small
and medium businesses.
2013 marks the 15th year of the partnership between TPT and the DCCI on the Exporter of
the Year Awards. Over the years we have seen and continue to see the value of
these awards. Not only do they benefit the players in the export industry, but they also
highlight the importance of driving economic growth through exports for South Africa.
Together with the Chamber, TPT continues to effect improvements to the competition
process by ensuring that it draws from and reaches a wider spectrum of entrants and that it
continues to add value,” said Karl Socikwa, CE of Transnet Port Terminals.
The Chairperson of the Chamber’s Trade and Investment Committee, Bashni Maistry, and
the CEO, Andrew Layman, lauded the generous support of TPT and the Transnet division’s
dedicated commitment to export growth, and the Chamber’s annual Awards which it has
supported continuously for fifteen years. They also thanked the other sponsors of this
year’s Awards, ABSA Corporate & Investment Bank, Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal
and SEDA.
The CEO announced that the export promotion programme will start even ahead of the
Export Week when experienced exporters will offer presentations and guidance to SMMEs
that aspire to exporting their products or services to other countries.
The Chamber invites entries to the Exporter of the Year Awards from any company engaged
in export. There are five categories: Large, Medium, Small and Emerging companies and a
special category for export into Africa. Another special award for a contribution to Black
Economic Empowerment will also be made.
Entry forms may be obtained from Prudence Sakala at the Chamber
(sakalap@durbanchamber.co.za) to whom queries may also be directed.
ANDREW LAYMAN
Chief Executive Officer 29 May 2013