Award Categories

The Awards are presented to top exporting companies based on the industries in which they operate in. In this regard, there are 5 industry groups including one industry group for services. Companies are evaluated by independent judges based on prescribed criteria.

These five ‘Top Industry Awards’ comprise the following industry groups:

  1. Agriculture, Food & Beverage
  2. Consumer Products
  3. Industrial Products
  4. Machinery, Electrical & Electronics
  5. Services

The Top Industry Awards are further described below:

Agriculture, Food and Beverage Award

Awarded to the company that has outstanding international success in the field of agriculture-based commodities or in the manufacture or processing of food and beverage products. This includes companies that are involved in any activities concerned with culturing, processing, preserving and/or selling the fresh agricultural products or the relevant semi-finished goods or finished goods processed from the said agricultural products.

This industry category includes palm oil, rubber, timber, livestock, cocoa, tobacco, vegetables, fruits and nuts, plants and flowers and prepared/processed food and beverages such as biscuits, packet/canned drink, packed/canned food, oat and fish products.

Consumer Products Award

This award goes to the company that has outstanding international success in the field of exporting finished goods generally for the usage by individuals and households for personal use including pharmaceuticals, clothing, cosmetics, gloves, stationery, furniture, cookware, utensils and other household products. This category excludes food and beverages and electrical and electronics products which should be included under the “Agricultural, Food and Beverages” Award and “Machinery, Electrical & Electronics” Award respectively.

Industrial Products Award

This award goes to the company that has outstanding international success in the field of exporting industrial products for industrial and business use. Industrial products are generally used by other industrial users for further processing or other business usage and generally not meant for consumers’ personal consumption. The industrial products include raw materials and operating supplies used in customers’ business production or operation.

This industry category also includes raw materials, metal, oil & gas products, construction & building materials, chemicals, mineral & alloy, etc.

Machinery, Electrical & Electronics Award

Recognising outstanding international success in the field of production and export of machinery, equipment and automation, electrical & electronics products or their semi-finished goods, parts or components.

The industry category includes manufacture of adapters, capacitors, circuit breakers, connectors, diodes, insulators, integrated circuits, hardware, computer hardware and components, air-conditioners, refrigerators, audio visual equipment, electrical and electronic devices, boards, electrical wire, optical & scientific equipment, boilers and machinery/equipment used in construction, agriculture and manufacturing of various products (including their parts or components).

Services Award

Awarded to the company that has outstanding international success in the field of export of services or of provision of services to foreigner(s) including inbound services rendered in Malaysia such as tourism, education, healthcare services, etc. To be included under this category, the principal part of the supply or work performed shall be in services even though some physical goods may be supplied e.g. repairs and maintenance.

This industry category also includes professional services, construction-related services, printing and publishing, logistics and information, communication and technology (ICT) services.

Tiers

The Top Industry Awards above are further sub-categorised into two tiers based on its annual sales turnover as per table below. The annual sales turnover will be based on each company’s latest audited financial statements.

Annual Sales Turnover
(RM' mil)
1st to 4th Top Industry Awards
(Products)
5th Top Industry Awards
(Services)
Small and Medium Enterprise Up to RM50 million Up to RM20 million
Mid-Tier and Large Companies > RM50 million > RM20 million

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify as an applicant for any of the five Top Industry Awards listed above, the company must meet the following requirements:

  • The company is duly incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016. [Please note that a company registered under the Companies Act 1965 is deemed to have been registered under the Companies Act 2016];
  • For a group of companies* (“the Group”), only those companies incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 are eligible to apply either individually or as a Proforma Group.
  • At least 20% of the revenue of the company or the Group* was generated from exports in the past three (3) financial years on a simple average basis. For this purpose, this simple average is computed by dividing the total of the percentage export revenue recorded in each of the three (3) years by three (3).
  • Must submit audited financial statements for the past three (3) consecutive financial years.

SPECIAL AWARDS CATEGORIES

Special Awards
Halal Products

In order to qualify as an applicant for the Special Award for Halal Products, the company must meet the following requirements:

  • The company is duly incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016.
  • For a group of companies* (“the Group”), only those companies incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 are eligible to apply either individually or as a Proforma Group.
  • At least 20% of the revenue of the company or the Group* was generated from exports in the past two (2) financial years on a simple average basis. For this purpose, this simple average is computed by dividing the total of the percentage export revenue recorded in each of the two (2) years by two (2).
  • It is mandatory for Halal certificate(s) to be furnished for the exported halal product(s).
  • Must submit audited financial statements for the past two (2) consecutive financial years.

Special Awards
Rising Star

In order to qualify as an applicant for the Special Award - Rising Star, the company must meet the following requirements:

  • The company is duly incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 (regardless of ownership);
  • As a group of companies (“a Group”), only subsidiary(ies) incorporated in Malaysia are eligible to apply as a Proforma Group. A Group is per the existing definition in EEA 2024;
  • Not a listed company or part of a Group that is listed in Bursa Malaysia;
  • Embarked into export business for a minimum of one (1) year but no more than two (2) years in exports at the closing date of EEA 2024 (“the Period”).
  • For example, a company has registered its business in year 2015, commenced its business operations in 2016 but only embarked in export businesses in 2021, the entity is eligible to participate in the Rising Star Award because it commenced export business for a minimum of one (1) financial year by 2022 but less than two (2) financial years as at the closing date of EEA 2024.
  • At least 10% of a company or Group’s revenue during the Period was generated from exports business on a simple average basis computed by dividing total export revenue (by percentage %) generated during the Period by two (2);
  • Must submit audited financial statements for past three (3) consecutive financial years and showing the revenue segments involving export business.

Special Awards
Woman Exporter of the Year

In order to qualify as an applicant for the Special Award - Woman Exporter of the Year, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • The female participant must be a Malaysian citizen and leading a company/ Group that is incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 (regardless of ownership);
  • She must be responsible for the company/ Group’s recent exporting business performance for at least the immediate past three (3) years. If she is not an owner or does not own any shares in the company/ Group, a letter of support from the company/ Group’s senior management to confirm her role in the company/ Group must be presented (e.g. export manager or equivalent).
  • For a group of companies (“a Group”), only subsidiary(ies) incorporated in Malaysia are eligible to apply as a Proforma Group;
  • At least 20% of a company/Group’s revenue was generated from exports in the past three (3) financial years on a simple average basis computed by dividing the total percentage export revenue recorded in each of the three (3) years by three (3);
  • Must submit a write up highlighting the guidelines for this award including the company/ Group’s audited financial statements for past three (3) consecutive financial years and showing the revenue segments involving export business.

Special Awards
Exporter of the year

The Exporter of the Year Award is the pinnacle award for EEA. There will be two winners; an Exporter of the Year Award for each of the two tiers i.e. Small and Medium Enterprises / Mid-Tier and Large Companies.

No application is required for this award as the winner in each of the five Top Industry Awards in each turnover sub-category (Small and Medium Enterprises / Mid-Tier and Large Companies) will automatically qualify to be considered for this Award. This Award will be evaluated by independent judges.

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