Trade initiatives recognized.

• Author: GOULIQUER, DIANNE

Ten of Northern Ontario's leading small and medium-sized exporters were recognized for their contributions to the economy and the employment scene during the third annual Northern Ontario Global Traders Awards ceremony in Thunder Bay last month.

The awards were presented by Minister of Economic Development and Trade Bob Runciman and representatives of the Ontario government's Partners in Trade to eight businesses and two individuals who have made an important contribution to the Ontario economy through exporting.

The Ontario Global Traders Awards celebrates outstanding exporting achievement by small and medium-sized enterprises. The awards program was initiated in 1998 by the Government of Ontario and Partners in Trade.

Companies or individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by a trade association or a customer. Nominations are evaluated by a regional panel of judges comprised of business leaders and education and economic development groups.

A provincial panel selects provincial award recipients from the short list of regional award winners.

"It is the entrepreneurs with a vision and a commitment to succeed and a willingness to take a risk that drive our economy," Runciman told an audience of about 250. "Exports generate the equivalent of more than 60 per cent of Ontario's gross domestic product and sustain 1.6 million jobs in Ontario. This demonstrates Ontario's ability to take on the world and compete in global markets."

Judges reviewed nearly 240 nominations based on outstanding performance in leadership, innovation, partnership, marketing expansion and student achievement. Winners from Northern Ontario will join other regional winners from eastern, southwestern, and central Ontario for a provincial awards ceremony in Toronto on May 17.

Among the Northern Ontario companies recognized this year was Main Filter Group, which received an honourable mention in the market expansion (product) category and an award of merit in the partnership category for its work with Filtrec North America.

The two companies have combined to form a partnership that vertically integrates manufacturing and distribution of high-quality hydraulic and lubrication oil filtration products throughout North America.

Main Filter Group has a 12-year history of...