The success of Southland's exporters was celebrated at an awards ceremony last night in the Civic Theatre.

More than 170 exporters and supports attended the bi-annual Southland Export Forum recognition awards, which highlighted the importance of exporters to the Southland economy.

Business and individuals who contribute to exporting ventures in the region were nominated for their successes.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter presented this year's awards to Cam McCulloch, for demonstrating leadership and securing growth in the seafood export sector, and to representatives of Real Journeys, for its contribution in generating export earnings by attracting tourists into the region for more than 50 years.

Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Richard Hay said Mr McCulloch was responsible for the formation of a lot of relationships that had proved successful in the export sector.

Real Journeys' contribution to the Southland economy through the volume of people it had brought to the region was recognised for the first time, he said.

Export Southland chairman Mark O'Connor said Real Journeys was a high performer in the export sector with regard to foreign exchange earnings, because of its high standard of delivery. He said Mr McCulloch had been a positive influence on the regional fishing sector and had been involved for a number of decades.

The Southland Export Trust presented its HSBC Southland Export grant of $12,500 to Retro Organics chief executive Robin Greer at the event.

The company was chosen from the six nominees because it was a fledging exporter that needed assistance getting a new product into the export market.

The funding would be used to attend an organic trade fair in Australia and for promotional material it would need in the Australian market, Mr Hay said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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