Francois de Maricourt, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh to recognize exporters for their contribution towards sustainable growth of the economy launched the seventh edition of HSBC Export Excellence Awards. The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, Bangladesh Brand Forum and KPMG are the strategic partners of the awards.

The exporter of the year award will be presented in four categories, each under specified annual export turnovers. Exporter of the year in garments category with annual export turnover over and up to $100 million, exporter of the year in apparel supply chain and backward linkage with annual export turnover over $10 million; exporter of the year in traditional and emerging sectors (non-RMG /textiles) with annual export turnover over $10 million; and exporter of the year in SMEs (non-RMG /textiles) with annual export turnover up to $10 million.

Winners will be selected based on different aspects such as annual contribution to national exports, diversity, responsibility, sustainable business practices and governance strengths of businesses, the bank said in a statement.

As in the previous year, the jury will have special powers to announce more than one winner from the categories as “Special Achievement Award” to encourage people with exceptional achievement in a specific field.

Maricourt said that HSBC was committed to promoting the excellence of Bangladeshi exporters.

For over 150 years, HSBC has been facilitating trade - helping businesses to thrive and connecting customers to global opportunities. They are pleased that they have been providing a platform for Bangladeshi exporters to showcase their capabilities and global potential through this award.

Mahbub Ur Rahman, deputy CEO of the bank, said that the excellence of entrepreneurs of Bangladesh was often best displayed by the exporters, who are making Bangladesh more international.

The journey of Bangladesh export has been a success story and the relentless efforts of our exporters helped Bangladesh to be recognised as a country of great potential across the globe. The HSBC Export Excellence Awards is their humble way of recognising their contribution and showcasing their excellence.

Banking giant HSBC is the only international bank with a presence aimed at facilitating trade in all of the eight export processing zones of Bangladesh. It helps ship products to over 100 countries each year. More than 10 percent of Bangladesh's global trade is channelled through the bank. In the recent past, it has arranged $1.4 billion of infrastructure financing.

According to the bank, every exporter is eligible to apply and can nominate oneself and even a fellow by filling up a form by October 5, the nomination form and other details are available at www.business.hsbc.com.bd/eea.

Formers winners of the award include DBL Group, Ha-Meem Denim, SM Group of Companies, Epic Garments Manufacturing Co, Square Pharmaceuticals, Epyllion Group, Pacific Jeans Group, Picard Bangladesh, Zaber & Zubair Fabrics, Urmi Group, Qualitex Group, Pran Group, Janata Jute Mills, Bay Footwear, Uniglory Cycle Industries, Square Textile, Interfab Shirt Manufacturing, Apex Adelchi Footwear, Graphic People, Tradexcel Graphics, AgroKagri Commodities and Brain Station-23.