ENTRIES for the sixth FNB KZN Top Business Portfolio Awards will close on Friday.

The awards are presented in association with the annual publication, the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio, to recognise and reward the top companies and organisations in business and industry.

Said Preggie Pillay, FNB KZN's provincial chairperson: "First National Bank has a lot to celebrate in KwaZulu-Natal and is proud to be associated with the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio Awards.

"We have been the proud sponsors of these awards for six years and believe that through this form of recognition we can inspire businesses in [KZN] to strive for success and can contribute to creating awareness of the strength of the local economy."

He said FNB had grown its share of the KZN market over the past few years and that the bank would continue to invest in the province.

The co-publisher of the KZN Top Business Portfolio, Grant Adlam, said: "The awards are given in separate industry categories, which present a fantastic opportunity to showcase and celebrate businesses excellence in the private and public sectors."

The industry categories are agriculture; mining and quarrying; manufacturing; utilities; construction, trade, transport; storage and communication; financial and business services; social and community services; and tourism.

The awards' criteria are drawn from the principles of the King Report on Corporate Governance 2009 (King III).

Each award is based on the contribution of the organisation or company to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal.

Factors such as brand and reputation, stakeholder relations and goodwill, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and quality of governance are taken into account.

The leading KwaZulu-Natal brand will be decided by public online poll.

A large number of well-known brands such as the Sharks, Tongaat Hulett, Spar, Hulamin, Clover, Corobrik and the AmaZulu Football Club have been grown and driven from within KZN and have made an indelible mark on consumer behaviour.

Due to the large number of brands featured, the top 10 brands with the most votes will go through to a second round of voting, which will close on June 22.

To enter the awards or vote for the top KZN brand, visit www.topbusiness.co.za. -- Witness Reporter.