May 31, 2024, FREDERICTON (GNB) – Opportunities NB, with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), celebrated the province’s top-performing exporters at the 56th annual Export Awards in Moncton on Thursday.

“Our province strives to connect New Brunswick companies with opportunities to grow their businesses locally and internationally,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Greg Turner, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB. “Every year, we honour the success of New Brunswick exporters at the Export Awards as a way to show our deep appreciation for everything they contribute to our province and economy.”

The winners were selected by a volunteer panel of business experts from academia and the private sector through a scoring system.

“Opportunities NB works with exporters to accelerate their sales and encourages newer exporters to broaden their horizons by exploring opportunities in new markets,” said Traci Simmons, CEO of Opportunities NB. “We were proud to celebrate our exporters’ achievements over the last year, and we look forward to assisting them in building on this year’s success.”

The 2024 award recipients are:

  • Exporter of the Year Award – over $5 million in export sales: JessEm Tool Company
  • Exporter of the Year Award – under $5 million in export sales: GAP Auto
  • Global Diversification Award: Smart Skin Technologies
  • Innovative Exporter of the Year Award: Anessa
  • The Yves Maillet Emerging Exporter of the Year Award: Let’s Nurture
  • Impact Award: Bulletproof
  • Sustainable Exporter of the Year Award: Corruven

Turner said export is a significant contributor to New Brunswick’s economy, with $16.9 billion in export sales recorded in 2023.

“New Brunswick is home to businesses that can compete on the world stage; they create good jobs and help make our region a great place to live and work,” said federal Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, who is also minister responsible for ACOA. “Congratulations to the winners. Your hard work is helping Atlantic Canada grow and securing our economy for the next generation.”

Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation and the lead economic development agency for the province. It seeks to attract and support opportunities to stimulate economic growth and create jobs by providing support services for businesses.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Michel LeBlanc, communications, Opportunities NB, michel.leblanc@onbcanada.ca.

Danielle Phillips, communications, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, danielle.phillips@acoa-apeca.gc.ca.

 

From left: Premier Blaine Higgs; Kumaran Thillaindarajah, chief technology officer and vice-president of sales, Smart Skin Technologies; Steven Burns, president and chief operating officer, Bulletproof; Bruce Gourley, partner and CEO, GAP Auto; Bruno Volpé, CEO, Corruven; Amir Akbari, CEO, Anessa; Kashyap Raval, chief technology officer, Let’s Nurture; Justin Perdu, vice-president of sales and marketing, JessEm Tool Company; Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Greg Turner, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB; and Traci Simmons, CEO, Opportunities NB.