Speech by Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed Minister of International Trade and Industry at The 21st Industry Excellence Awards, 24 October 2012

Y.A.B TAN SRI DATO' HJ MUHYIDDIN HJ MOHD YASSIN
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia

Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Azman Hashim
Chairman of the Industry Excellence Award Council

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.  Firstly, I would like to welcome Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri Dato' Hj Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin and all our distinguished guests to this evening's event.

2. Ladies and gentlemen. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has many roles in government. Essentially, we are trustees of the public interest in business and commerce. We help to bring in investments and we help to promote exports. We organise programmes to support small businesses and we provide training programmes to help improve the quality of their products. We do all these and much more. But our over-arching role, ladies and gentlemen, the role that puts all these other functions into proper context, is to be lead advocate of the push to build a more competitive economy. This is MITI's role. This is our purpose in government.

3. It is an important role, ladies and gentlemen, because our survival as a nation, as an economy, depends on our ability to compete. If we cannot compete, or if we are not competitive enough, our economy will be affected. Growth will suffer, development will be stifled, and life will become more difficult for everybody.

4. So building a competitive economy is our No.1 priority. It is a responsibility we all share: government, businessmen, workers - everybody, in fact. We contribute to this effort in different ways – in the office, on the factory floor, in universities, and so on.

5. We contribute every time we do something that adds to value to our economy. Businessmen do that. Companies do that. So the contribution of the business community to national competitiveness is important. It needs to be recognised and supported. This is what the AKI programme does, ladies and gentlemen.

6. The government launched the AKI programme to recognise companies that have demonstrated an outstanding ability to compete. When these companies succeed, the nation succeeds. When they do well, we all do well. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the spirit that inspires our AKI programme.

7. This year, the theme for our AKI programme is based on the exhortation to companies to be “Competitive, Distinctive and Innovative”. The theme reflects the dynamism of today's business environment. It also emphasizes the factors that are critical to corporate success in today's highly competitive market.

8. Judging for the AKI programme has been based on a pre-determined set of criteria. Both empirical and qualitative factors have been taken into account in the evaluation process. I think all those who have taken part in the programme can confirm that the assessment process has been elaborate and thorough.

9. The AKI awards programme recognises success in five categories of corporate activity. These categories are:

• Product Excellence
• Export Excellence for Merchandise
• Export Excellence for Services
• Quality Management Excellence, and
• Brand Excellence

10. Twenty-one (21) companies have been chosen to receive Industry Excellence Awards tonight. From among them, one company has been chosen to receive the Prime Minister's Award for Industry Excellence. Certificates of Excellence will also be given to 36 companies that have achieved a high level of performance.

11. Winners of the Industry Excellence Awards will:

12. Ladies and gentlemen. This year marks the 21 st edition of the AKI programme. MITI is reviewing the format of the programme and will be introducing an improved version next year, with new categories and exciting prizes to be won.

13. I would like to thank Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Azman Hashim, Chairman of the Industry Excellence Awards Council, and his team, for their contribution to the AKI evaluation process. They have spent much time and effort on this project, and we would like to thank them for their support.

14. Before I conclude, ladies and gentlemen, allow me also to congratulate the winners of this year's AKI awards. I wish you continued success.

 Thank you.