The crème de la crème of KwaZulu-Natal are toasting success after the winners of the second First National Bank (FNB) KZN Top Business Awards 2008 were announced on Thursday 28 August 2008 at a fabulous gala dinner at Durban's International Convention Centre.

This prestigious event brought together over 700 top business, government and community leaders in KZN, for a celebration of business excellence in the province.

 According to David Montsho, FNB KZN Provincial Executive in KZN, it is essential to showcase the positive contributions made by industrial players in the KZN economy, so that local and global investor confidence in the Province can be enhanced especially in view of the current volatile international markets.

The Awards are a platform to honour great performance, both in the private sector workplace and in government organizations, contributing to the socio-economic growth of KZN. Award criteria were drawn from the principles of the King Report on Corporate Governance 2001 and South Africa's BEE Codes of Good Practice, which apply to all business enterprises.

Companies had to illustrate how they have adhered to these best practices in achieving a balanced and integrated economic, social and environmental performance.

Grant Adlam, CEO of Pearl Coral 4, the driving force behind the FNB KZN Top Business Portfolio, said: "The awards add to the overall aim of our publication, which is to highlight success in the Province and promote investment possibilities to the local and international investor markets." The event also marked the 10^th anniversary of the Portfolio which is sought after networking and marketing tool. The web site may be visited at www.kzntopbusiness.co.za.

Over 150 nominations from a range of top companies from the industry sectors of ariculture; mining and quarrying; manufacturing; utilities; construction; trade; transport, storage and communication; financial and business services; social and community services and tourism were received.

Nominees also included well-known brands housed in KZN, such as Illovo Sugar Limited,  Tongaat Hulett Limited, Orange Grove Dairy, Afripack, aQuellé, Chemspec, Catering Supreme,  Hosaf,  Jonsson Group, Nampak, NCS Resins, Rainbow Chickens, Southern African Shipyards (Pty) LTD,  Spring Lights Gas, Elma Engineering Services (Pty) Ltd, Paradigm Container Management, Bondsource, Liviero, Mhlathuze Water, Sesalos, SA Homeloans, Zimbali Coastal Resort, J.T. Ross, Durban Graduate School of Business,   East Coast Radio,  Management College of Southern Africa (Mancosa), SA Sugar Association,  

FNB and Pearl Coral 4 were impressed with the quality of the 2008 nominations, making the selection of winners a challenging task. The judging panel included KZN Top Business management, former KZN Growth Fund executive, Mel Clark, and Prof Bonke Dumisa, with results audited by Roshan Morar.

The winners were:

Agriculture: NCT Forestry Co-operative Ltd

Mining and Quarrying: Richards Bay Minerals

Manufacturing: Hulamin Limited

Utilities: Umgeni Water

Construction: Group Five KZN

Trade: Spar Group KZN

Transport, Storage and Communication: Richards Bay Coal Terminal

Financial and Business services: Shepstone and Wylie 

Social and Community services: KZNonSource

Tourism (additional award): Gooderson Leisure Corporation

 A special commendation was also handed to the municipality and government department that contributed most to the socio-economic growth of the Province by attracting investment, with the winners emerging as Ilembe District Municipality, and the Department of Traditional and Local Government.

"For promoting sustainable growth in this part of South Africa," Montsho added, "the top accolade of the evening was awarded to a public private partnership (PPP) that is currently very active in development projects in KZN. Together, the Stables Wine Estate and Gijima KZN achieved what they separately would not have had the capacity, skill or resources to implement."

Lalita Dhasiar-Ventura, publisher of the Portfolio, added that it was great to see so many outstanding companies contributing to the vibrant and growing economy of KZN. "These organisations are prospering and participating in the process of building the province's future through their commitment to the communities around them."