The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOEIT) are now officially recognised as ‘Small Business Champions’ by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). ‘The Open to Export International Business Awards’ – powered by the IOE&IT – encouraged MSMEs from anywhere in the world to take ownership of their international strategies by completing an ‘Export Action Plan’, using Open to Export’s (OTE) online planning tool.
After a thrilling showcase final at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva – in which the year’s best ‘Export Action Planners’ pitched to an expert panel of judges for the chance to win a $5000 cash prize – Dytech Limited, a Zambian honey producer, were named as winners of the inaugural international competition.
Dytech Limited impressed the judging panel with their broad product range, 100% natural production processes, and its social impact in training highly skilled beekeepers in Zambia, 40% of whom are women. Two runners up – Hot Mama’s Belize (pepper sauce producers) and Lhamour (skincare products from Mongolia) – also won free membership with the International Chamber of Commerce.
You can read the full report of the final here.
We will be continuing to run the Export Action Plan competitions throughout 2019 for UK businesses.