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About the Awards

1. Why the dti is launching the dti Business awards
2. Positioning the Awards
3. How are these awards different?
4. Award Categories

1. Why the dti is launching the dti Business awards

   Enterprises do not operate in a vacuum, but form an important piece of the overall economic puzzle. The success and global competitiveness of individual enterprises can therefore have a significant positive impact on making the South African economy as a whole more successful, and improving the quality of life of South Africa’s people.

   As the pre-eminent and official voice on the South Africa’s real economy for real people, it is fitting the the dti not only recognise excellence in enterprises and their contribution to the further development of the economy, but reward that excellence.

2. Positioning the Awards

   The dti Business Awards are not just another business award, but as the pinnacle of achievement, officially sanctioned as a high profile national award reflecting domestic export achievements. The Awards have been fashioned as an opportunity to improve the competitiveness of each enterprise that applies through specifically accessing the support offered by the dti.

   They will define and celebrate competitiveness as it relates to the South African experience, incorporating the dimensions of equity and contributing to the wider socio-economic development of the country.

3. How are these awards different?

   In the past, the President's Export Achievement Awards highlighted companies that were achieving excellence in exports. The dti's awards now celebrate a wider range of achievements in both the domestic and international economy. A scan of other economic awards in South Africa shows that:
   
   

   • Most cover only a portion of the economy (in terms of type of enterprise, industry sector or area of performance)
   • Few create the link between areas of performance and the fundamentals required for national competitiveness, growth and equity.
   • Few carry the prestige of a national government endorsement
   
   Because the dti has the responsibility for facilitating competitiveness, growth, employment and equity in South Africa's real economy, the awards serve not only to celebrate the success of individuals or enterprises, but also to recognise the positive contributions that particular successes have had on national competitiveness, employment and empowerment.
4. Award Categories

   The selection of the categories is related to the dti's analysis of the key drivers of sustainable competitiveness in the South African context. They are not a comprehensive list of all drivers of competitiveness, but rather have been chosen to highlight particular areas of achievement, and may be amended over time to enable the dti to promote areas of achievement which it feels need to be addressed. Categories are therefore as follows:

   1. Manufacturing excellence
   2. Supply chain management
   3. Job creation and retention
   4. Export achievement
   5. Partnership and collaboration
   6. Corporate governance
   7. Overall South African Enterprise of the Year
   8. Innovative Enterprise Financing

   There is also the Presidents award for enterprise of the year, which will recognise an enterprise that has demonstrated balanced achievement across all the above areas. Such a company will represent the pinnacle of achievement and economic contribution for a South African enterprise.

   In addition, a special award for innovative enterprise financing will be given, which will be awarded to a financial institution that has demonstrated a commitment to developing and delivering creative enterprise financing products. This award has been developed because access to finance is a critical determinant in the further development of enterprises and the economy. The application process for this award will be nomination driven.