DATE: 2 November 2009

The seventeenth annual AustCham Australia-China Business Awards (ACBA:09), celebrating the excellence of Australian business across Greater China are underway for 2009. The Awards programme is a means of recognising Australian excellence in business across the Greater China region. To nominate yourself for the Awards please go to www.austchamchina.com or email AustCham Beijing's General Manager, Dalwyn Bateson at dalwyn.bateson@austcham.org or call +86 10 6595 9252. Nominations will close on Monday 9 November.

These awards have grown in stature over the years and are now recognised as a high profile celebration of Australian business success across Greater China and Australia.

The 2009 AustCham Australia-China Business Awards are jointly organised by the Australian Chambers of Commerce (AustCham) in Beijing, Hong Kong & Macau and Shanghai. To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China the 2009 Gala Award Presentation will be hosted in Beijing.

This year, AustCham has extended the Awards programme to include a new award category - the 'People's Choice Award'. This award will further engage the Australian business community in the Greater China region, as they vote online for the company from among the ACBA:09 Finalists that they believe best represents Australian business in China.

Finalists and Winners of this Awards programme will benefit from participation in an extensive promotional campaign that reaches media, government entities and key business decision makers across Greater China and in Australia.

The six judged award categories are:
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE  Large Companies (>100 employees)

Recognises an Australian business, with more than 100 employees, that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.

 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE  SME's (<100 employees)

Recognises an Australian business, with fewer than 100 employees, that has demonstrated the most outstanding performance in Greater China over the past year.

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURIAL (>50 employees)

Recognises an Australian business, with more than 50 employees, that has demonstrated entrepreneurial excellence in Greater China over the past year.

BUSINESS INNOVATION

Recognises an Australian business whose significant innovation has resulted in the successful development of opportunities in Greater China over the past year.

 BUSINESS PROMOTION

Recognises a local business in Greater China that has shown excellence in promoting or marketing an Australian product or service.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Recognises the successful implementation of sustainable development programmes and processes by an Australian company in Greater China.

NEW CATEGORY - VOTE ONLINE

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Recognises one of this year's Finalists that the Australian business community in Greater China believes has contributed the most to Australian business across the region over the past year.

Winners of the 2009 AustCham Australia-China Business Awards will be announced at a black-tie gala presentation dinner on Thursday 3 December 2009 in Beijing.

ENDS

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NOTES FOR EDITORS:

BACKGROUND - AUSTCHAM AUSTRALIA-CHINA BUSINESS AWARDS

 The AustCham Australia-China Business Awards has for 17 years been a means of recognising companies that have worked to deliver Australian products or services to the Greater China region. These awards have grown in stature over the years and are now recognised as a high profile celebration of business success among Australian business communities in the region.

Since its inception in 1993, AustCham Hong Kong and Macau has coordinated and hosted the ACBA as a means of recognising the excellence of Australian business in Greater China.

The Awards programme is moving to AustCham Beijing this year in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Peoples' Republic of China and will be on the move to AustCham Shanghai in 2010 to celebrate that city's major international event ... the Shanghai Expo. 2011 will see the return of the Awards programme to Hong Kong.

Finalists and Winners of the AustCham Australia-China Business Awards are announced at a gala black-tie dinner. The event is also a night of memorable entertainment and glamour; with performers, guest speakers and exceptional Australian food and wine.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

BACKGROUND - ENDORSING ORGANISATIONS

 AustCham Beijing - www.austcham.org  

The China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham Beijing) functions to provide members with the information, resources and contacts they need to succeed in China. Its overriding goal is to 'Advance Australian Business in China.

AustCham Hong Kong & Macau - www.austcham.com.hk

The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau was formed over 22 years ago to facilitate business development and networking opportunities for its members.

It represents the largest Australian business community outside Australia and is the second largest international chamber in Hong Kong. Over the past 22 years AustCham has grown to over 1,100 members and it now represents more than 600 companies.

AustCham Shanghai - www.austchamshanghai.com  

Founded in 1994 AustCham Shanghai has grown to be the lead Australia China business organisation in Shanghai and works on behalf of over 240 corporate members. Operating on a non-partisan, non-profit-making basis, the Chamber is funded by membership subscriptions, sponsorship and activities. It annually makes a significant donation to a variety of PRC community outreach projects.

AustCham South China (Guangzhou) www.austcham-southchina.org

The China Australia Chamber of Commerce-South China (AustCham-South China) was formed to promote, develop and expand business relations between Australia and China. The Chamber has grown rapidly to provide a forum to enable its members to exchange information on business opportunities within the region.

Hong Kong Australian Business Association - www.hkaba.com.au

HKABA was established in 1987 with the aim to promote a positive image for Hong Kong and to reinforce economic ties between Hong Kong/China and Australia. Members are local businessmen with strong Hong Kong connections or interested in doing business with Hong Kong and Hong Kong organizations based in Australia.

Australia China Business Council - www.acbc.com.au

The ACBC is dedicated to promoting business and trade between the two countries, highlighting the growing importance being attached to the economic aspect of Australia's overall relationship with the People's Republic of China. Today business and trade has become the single most important side of the Australia - China relationship.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

BACKGROUND - 2008 AUSTCHAM AUSTRLIA-CHINA BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

AustCham Business Excellence Award- Large

¨                   Macquarie Group Limited

Macquarie is a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. Macquarie's main business focus is making returns by providing a diversified range of services to clients. Macquarie acts on behalf of institutional, corporate and retail clients and counterparties around the world. www.macquarie.com.au

 AustCham Business Excellence Award for Small & Medium Companies

¨                   Biograde Limited

Biograde Limited is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of resins derived from renewable resources (corn starch) for the plastics packaging industry. Biograde also offers a broad range of renewable hybrid resins and certified biodegradable resins for the packaging industry, as well as a strong patent portfolio for creating innovative products based on its proprietary technology. www.biograde.com.au

 AustCham Business Entrepreneurial Award

¨                   Illuminant Partners

Illuminant Partners is a multi-disciplinary public relations and strategic communications agency, operating as properly established Chinese and Hong Kong companies, providing services for clients throughout the region. Illuminant incorporates expert public relations abilities with a firm grasp of the contemporary Chinese market to help their clients communicate more effectively, generate more leads, reduce the length of sales cycles, develop and maintain an excellent reputation and manage any crisis if they occur.  www.illuminantpartners.com

 AustCham Business Innovation Award

¨                   David Laris Creates (DLC) Limited

David Laris Creates (DLC) focuses on creating and developing innovative lifestyle food and beverage concepts that can be implemented within the Chinese marketing and the international arena. DLC also provides ongoing consultancy services for food and beverage projects. www.davidlariscreates.com

 AustCham Austrade Business Promotion Award

¨                   Ausnutria Dairy (Hunan) Company Ltd

Ausnutria, established in 2003 as a subsidiary of Australian Ausnutira Dairy Pty Ltd, focuses on promoting premium Australian food to the China market. Their core product range is infant formula under leading brand names-Ausnutria and Allnutria. Ausnutria has also invested in a joint venture with Australian olive oil company Cobram Estate. www.ausnutria.com

AustCham CLP Sustainable Development Award

¨                   URBN Hotels & Resorts

URBN Hotels & Resorts is a specialised boutique hotel and resort company based in Shanghai that focuses on immersing travellers into their surroundings, beyond offering a traditional hotel experience. URBN Hotels is committed to developing and operating green hotels and hopes to set an example for other businesses and industries in China and around the world. www.urbnhotels.com

ENDS

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