Nippon Export Award
What is the Nippon Export Award?
The “Nippon Export Award” is an initiative of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan, with the purpose to reward those companies that have made significant achievements in exporting to Japan, importing into Japan, or distributing within Japan, Belgian-Luxembourg products or services.
This award is aimed at enhancing the winner’s image in both Belgian-Luxembourg and Japanese markets, and is an incentive for its staff.
The award is organised every 2 years, and the last edition, won by Sarnoff Europe, took place in 2007.
The winning company receives an award and is allowed to mention on all their documents: “Winner of the Nippon Export Award 2009”. The use of Nippon Export Award’s logo is also granted. The winner also benefits from:
- Media attention: local media are invited to the special Award reception and encouraged to write articles on the ceremony
- Press releases sent to the Japanese and Belgian-Luxembourg press
- The possibility of inviting their own guests/business contacts to the Award ceremony
- Special feature coverage in BLCCJ Quarterly Newsletter, and on the BLCCJ website
The Nippon Export Award is under the High Patronage of:
- The Prime Minister of Belgium
- The Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Also granting their patronage to the Award are:
- Embassy of Belgium in Japan
- Embassy of Luxembourg in Japan
- Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
- Belgo-Luxembourg Market Council (BLMC)
- Agence Wallonne à l’Exportation (AWEX)
- Bruxelles Région-Capitale
- Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT)
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Where and when?
The winner of the 5th edition of the Nippon Export Award will be announced during a special award ceremony in Tokyo, in November 2009 (exact date and venue tbc). The screening of participating companies and final selection procedure will take place in Tokyo, in September 2009.
Conditions for Application
- The award is open to every company exporting to Japan, importing into Japan or distributing within Japan, Belgian-Luxembourg products/services.
- Companies must have been actively exporting to Japan, importing into Japan or distributing within Japan for a minimum of 3 years.
- Companies without representative office in Japan are also eligible
- Previous winners can only reapply two years after their last participation.
Selection Criteria
A jury committee will pre-select 3 finalists. The finalists will be called for an individual interview. The winning company will be the one who has shown the greatest export achievements in its sector. The selection will be based on the following criteria:
- The presence in the Japanese market and the company significant achievement (either growth or size) in trade with Japan.
- Showing vision in new niche markets, daring innovation to embark on new opportunities.
- Perseverance in the conquest of the market, adaptation of the products and services to the Japanese taste and standards.
- Originality of approach (marketing, distribution, environment protection, design, research…)
- The company’s spirit (marketing, merchandising…).
Laureats
Past winners of the Nippon Export Award are:
- Puratos Japan KK: Award Winner in 2004
- Frisk NV: Award Winner in 2005
- Ecover NV: Award Winner in 2006
- Sarnoff Europe: Award Winner in 2007
Application
If you are interested in participating in the Nippon Export Award 2009, please download and fill in the Nippon Export Award questionnaire, and send back the completed questionnaire to the BLCCJ office by Friday, September 25, 2009. You can find the questionnaire HERE >>