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Press Releases

22 June 2009
CATHAY PACIFIC CHINA BUSINESS AWARDS SCHEME ENTERS FIFTH YEAR

British businesses trading with Hong Kong and/or China are being invited by Cathay Pacific Airways to enter the 2009 Cathay Pacific China Business Awards from 22 June. First introduced five years ago, in 2005, the award scheme was established to recognise and reward successful UK enterprises trading in the region.

The prize consists of an all expense paid one-week business trip to China and Hong Kong, inviting two representatives from the winning companies, aimed at enhancing the winners’ local market knowledge and providing invaluable commercial insight from experts and business leaders on the ground. This involves exclusive business meetings and seminars with Cathay Pacific’s partners of the awards scheme, HSBC, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, China-Britain Business Council and UK Trade & Investment.

Winners will be presented with their award at a formal ceremony hosted by Tony Tyler, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways. Past winners of the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards include AstraZeneca, B&Q China, Caldeira Ltd, Prudential, Sagentia, Rolls Royce and the University of Nottingham.

Companies registered in the UK that are trading with Hong Kong and/or China can submit their entries online at a dedicated awards website: www.cathaypacificawards.co.uk and will have until 31 October 2009 to do so. This year the three award categories are:

• The Rising Stars Award: Aimed at recognising the achievements of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) trading with Hong Kong and/or China. For 2009 the criteria for this award have changed to also accept entries from companies that do not employ staff in the region in order to reward a wider range of SMEs demonstrating outstanding success in China and/or Hong Kong.
• The Continued Commitment Award: This award recognises outstanding and continued commitment to Hong Kong and China, through past efforts or future projects, by an established UK based company.
• The New Horizons Award: Introduced in 2008, this award recognises a single project or initiative that displays substantial business innovation, research activities or environmental and CSR case studies. Entries in this category are welcome from any company, academic or not-for-profit organisation.

Winning companies will be announced at a reception in January 2010 and two representatives from each company will be invited to attend the week long business trip in May 2010.

Philippe de Gentile-Williams, General Manager Europe, Cathay Pacific said, “As Hong Kong’s flagship carrier we are committed to promoting growth and economic prosperity in this dynamic region. Cathay Pacific has been flying between London and Hong Kong for twenty-nine years and we have been able to witness the flourishing of Sino-British business links. The purpose of the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards, which are now entering their fifth year, is to provide a platform to showcase the talent, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of these companies.”
Winners of the 2008 Cathay Pacific China Business Awards were Arup, Andor Technology, Sindicatum Carbon Capital, who were the first winners of the New Horizons Award.

Aislinn Rice, Sales Director at Andor Technology and winner of the 2008 Rising Stars Award said, “We were delighted to have won such a prestigious business award and the associated increase in our media profile was a great additional benefit. The hosted prize trip proved an invaluable learning experience and offered a unique insight into a market that is of great strategic interest to our business.”

Notes to Editors

• The Cathay Pacific China Business Awards are open for entry from 22 June 2009.
• Cathay Pacific is honoured that the China-Britain Business Council, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) are once again supporting the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards. Cathay Pacific, UKTI and HKTDC are all members of the Hong Kong-United Kingdom Business Partnership.
• Cathay Pacific is also honoured that its corporate partner HSBC will again be supporting the awards scheme: HSBC is well known for its global banking connections and is currently expanding services and network in tandem with China’s economic development, by supporting customers' needs in the this market. With one of the largest networks of any foreign bank in mainland China, HSBC is the ideal partner for companies involved in international trade.
• The Awards will be decided by a judging and advisory panel which includes senior personnel from HSBC, Prudential, University of Nottingham and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, UK Trade & Investment, Hong Kong Association and China Britain Business Council.
• A sister event to the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards, The Cathay Pacific China Trader Awards, has been running successfully in the Netherlands since 1996. It provides a vital networking forum for those organisations with interests in Hong Kong and China. Similar award schemes are successfully run in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany and Thailand.
• Cathay Pacific flies non-stop four times daily from London Heathrow Terminal 3 to Hong Kong International Airport, with onward connections to 118 destinations worldwide, including 40 Asian cities and 20 destinations in China (through its sister airline, Dragonair).
• The Cathay Pacific UK website can be found at www.cathaypacific.co.uk