1. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AWARD (PRIVATE SECTOR)

Eligibility:
Private Sector Institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the private organisation that has demonstrated professionalism, high-level customer service concepts by applying improvement tools to help deliver services. Judges will be looking for how the organisation has aligned with customer expectations, problem solving and innovation. They will also look for explanations of how the organisation has put customers at the core of what they do. Customer service innovations and customer satisfaction surveys will also be conducted.

2. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AWARD (PUBLIC SECTOR)

Eligibility:
Government Agency involved in trade facilitation/logistics

Citation:
This award category recognises the government agency that has demonstrated professionalism, high-level customer service concepts by applying improvement tools to help deliver services. Judges will be looking for how the organisation has aligned with customer expectations, problem-solving and innovation. They will also look for explanations of how the organisation has put customers at the core of what they do. Customer service innovations and customer satisfaction surveys will also be conducted.

3. SHIPPING LINE AWARD

Eligibility:
Shipping Lines under the following categories

Citation:
This award category recognizes the shipping line that has demonstrated excellence in shipping large quantities of goods in an affordable, fast, and efficient way that has had significant effect or transformation in the trade facilitation industry. Judges will be looking for explanations of how the transformation or effect was achieved, including the rationale for it. They will also assess any investments committed and explore the company’s plans to build on its achievement.

4. FINANCIAL SERVICES AWARD

Eligibility:
Financial Services providers

Citation:
This award category recognizes the financial institution that has provided the most comprehensive, competitive, and efficient service to the trade facilitation industry or players. The institution should have provided financial solutions, advice, and investment support for major projects or programmes in the trade facilitation industry such as financing cargo clearing and forwarding, construction/investing in the shipping and maritime markets. Judges will be looking for evidence of the positive impact made to the industry or customers.

5. TRADE EVENT AWARD

Eligibility:

All institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the outstanding trade facilitation event organised by the entrant (physical, online, or hybrid). Judges will consider the event’s relevance to trade facilitation, level of participation, attendance, participants’ experience and feedback, innovations, programme content, and its contribution or value addition to the industry.

6. TRADE PUBLICATION AWARD

Eligibility:
Published and circulated trade-related publications

Citation:
This award category recognises a publication produced by an association or organisation that engages and serves the needs of the trade industry, and is both informative and educative. The publication may be online or printed, should be appropriate for its purpose, and promote the trade sector. Judges will be looking for details of the intended audience, purpose, and distribution method.

7. TRADE INVESTMENT AWARD

Eligibility:
All institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the institution that has played a key role in supporting or complementing government efforts to enhance trade facilitation and regional competitiveness. Judges will be looking for the institution’s role in investments in existing or new projects — including road improvements, digitization of trade processes, or trade-related research.

8. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY AWARD

Eligibility:
All institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the organization that has created, promoted, and maintained diversity and inclusion by establishing an environment that recognizes, encourages, and effectively utilizes each individual’s talents. It must highlight the diversity and inclusion strategy and how it has had a positive impact on the business. Judges will be looking at leadership’s commitment to diversity, equality, representation of diversity at all levels, equal access to opportunity, fair treatment practices, and diversity in education and training.

9. BUSINESS STRATEGY AND GROWTH AWARD

Eligibility:

All institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the most dynamic business growth based on an actively managed and consistently delivered growth strategy. It could include the implementation of a new trade facilitation strategy, business expansion, or product diversification. Judges will be looking for what makes the initiative unique and what differentiates this particular strategy and growth.

10. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AWARD

Eligibility:
All institutions

Citation:
This award category recognizes the organization that has done the most to improve overall environmental performance and enhance sustainability in the trade facilitation industry. The organization should demonstrate leadership in reducing energy consumption, emissions, noise pollution, and environmental impact. It may include efficiency savings in use of raw materials, energy, water; adoption of clean technologies; improved waste management and recycling; and/or operational changes that promote sustainability.

11. CONTAINER FREIGHT STATION AWARD

Eligibility:
Container Freight Stations operating in Kenya

Citation:
This award category recognizes the best container freight station operators or owners who have streamlined and optimised the process of shipping. Judges will be looking at CFS capacity, infrastructure, cargo handling equipment, efficiency, speedy evacuation, rail and road connectivity, storage space, value-added services, and customer service.

12. CLEARING AND FORWARDING AGENT AWARD

Eligibility:
All registered/licensed clearing agents

Citation:
This award category recognizes the Clearing & Forwarding Agent who has demonstrated excellence in ensuring smooth shipment and clearance of cargo through customer service and regulatory compliance in customs. This includes timely documentation, submission of required paperwork to authorities, and related activities. Judges will look for entries that clearly show the nominee goes beyond the call of duty for customers while achieving everyday excellence.

13. FREIGHT FORWARDER AWARD (LOCAL & REGIONAL)

Eligibility:
Freight Forwarders (Local and Regional categories)

Citation:
This award category recognizes the company that has displayed excellence in freight forwarding in terms of service and efficiency in sea, air, road, or rail freight, and has proven to be an industry leader. Judges will look for evidence of global reach, customs solutions, customer support, warehouse and inventory management, and innovation.

14. CARGO CONSOLIDATOR AWARD

Eligibility:
All cargo consolidators registered in Kenya

Citation:
This award category recognizes the Cargo Consolidating company that has efficiently combined multiple smaller shipments into one larger shipment. Judges will look for the most effective solutions that reduce costs and achieve shorter transit times in freight consolidation.

15. WAREHOUSE OPERATOR AWARD

Eligibility:
All Warehouse Operators registered in Kenya

Citation:
This award category recognises the warehouse facility or organisation that has gone above and beyond to ensure smooth and successful warehouse operations. In addition to providing safe storage, the warehouse must demonstrate efficient coordination of activities, facilities, and manpower to manage consolidation and de-consolidation effectively.

16. SHIPPING AGENT AWARD

Eligibility:
Shipping Agents registered in Kenya

Citation:
Recognises shipping agents who are familiar with all relevant regulations and requirements in trade logistics and are sufficiently organised to provide the required level of service and support to the principal. Judges will be looking for demonstrable knowledge, skills, efficiency and promptness.

17. MARINE CARGO INSURANCE AWARD

Eligibility:
Insurance companies, insurance brokers or underwriters

Citation:
Recognises insurance companies that provide indemnity against loss/damage of goods transported by sea or air (including incidental land transport). With new requirements for marine cargo insurance in Kenya, judges will favour companies that have excelled in executing this directive.

18. EXPORTER AWARD

Eligibility:
Exporters (companies that have been exporting from Kenya for two years or more)

Citation:
Recognises outstanding performance in exports, including proven track record, export strategy (existing & new markets), exceptional progress, growth, and significant economic contributions. Judges look at structure of export operations and systems.

19. IMPORTER AWARD

Eligibility:
All importers

Citation:
Recognises the importer’s contribution to business sector and national economy by paying taxes, creating jobs, growth in volume and value of imports and promoting Kenya’s image. Judges also look at demonstrated efficiency in logistics processes and compliance with regulatory/industry obligations.

20. CARGO TRANSPORTER AWARD

Eligibility:
Cargo Transporters (Road)

Citation:
Recognises cargo transporters who have complied with transport rules, employed best practices, trained staff, adhered to designated routes and passing through transit countries to hinterlands. Judges look for unique or different approach, business performance or change in the industry (especially along the Northern Corridor).

21. DRY BULK / BREAKBULK OPERATOR AWARD

Eligibility:
Dry bulk / breakbulk operators

Citation:
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22. AIR FREIGHT (CARGO) TRANSPORTER AWARD

Eligibility:
Airline companies (companies engaged in air freight)

Citation:
Recognises the organisation/airline involved in carriage of goods within and out of Kenya that have invested in providing excellent customer service, operational excellence, innovative technologies, expanded or secured new export markets with a growing fleet and well-maintained facilities. Judges look at safe, reliable, competitively priced services.

23. INNOVATION AWARD (PRIVATE SECTOR)

Eligibility:
Private sector organisations

Citation:
Recognises organisations that have undertaken or implemented an innovative project using new technology, or used technology in a new/different way (idea need not be new but could be applied in a new environment). Could bring new/existing products/services together to solve a pain point. Judges look at how the organisation used a technological solution to drive efficiency and cost-saving impact for them and/or the wider sector.

24. INNOVATION AWARD (PUBLIC SECTOR)

Eligibility:
Organisations in the public sector

Citation:
Recognises public-sector innovations relevant to simplification and streamlining of trade processes; involvement of key stakeholders in design/implementation; creativity and effectiveness; how the innovation serves key beneficiaries. Judges look at relevance/benefits of the innovation, awareness creation and effectiveness.

25. BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Eligibility:
All eligible companies

Citation:
Recognises the organisation that has embedded use of technology to improve their processes and work environment in achieving business goals and objectives. The organisation need not be an IT company; judges look at adaptation of technology internally to significantly improve a business process and enable efficient trade facilitation.

26. TRAINING INSTITUTION AWARD

Eligibility:
Private and public training providers

Citation:
Recognises training institutions that offer their trainees a firm foundation in fundamental skills/knowledge in trade facilitation or related programmes. Judges look for commitment beyond minimum, and contribution to trainees’ career development.

27. EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING AWARD

Eligibility:
All institutions

Citation:
Recognizes progress in improving occupational health & safety culture of workplace via new or developed initiatives; implementing recognized models of safety, simplifying risk management, anticipating & tackling new health & safety challenges, promoting benefits of an effective safety & wellness strategy to improve employee well-being. Judges look for how safety & wellness has been embedded into company culture through policies, resources, initiatives and activities that enable employees to have motivated and focused work-life balance.

28. BEST SME IN LOGISTICS AWARD

Eligibility:
SMEs with fewer than 50 employees

Citation:
Recognises SMEs in the trade logistics sector that have shown exceptional initiative, boldness and dynamism, exemplary management practices, are creative and innovative, engaged in global trade, provide important opportunities for growth and excelled in business performance.

29. RISK MANAGEMENT AWARD

Eligibility:
All organisations

Citation:
Recognises organisations that are strategically committed to excellence in risk management in their operations by promoting risk culture in corporate structure, applying innovative approaches for tackling challenges in risk management implementation and having leadership competencies to support risk management programmes.

30. MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION AWARD

Eligibility:
All membership associations

Citation:
Recognizes membership associations that demonstrate excellence in engaging and communicating with their members, industry and other stakeholders. Judges look at expertise in running a successful organisation focused on members’ needs.

31. GOOD GOVERNANCE AWARD

Eligibility:
All organisations

Citation:
Recognises organizations whose board demonstrate commitment to core principles of good governance by creating a culture of board excellence, which has resulted in positive impact on the organization’s strategic or operational development. Judges look at governing style, structures and processes and demonstrable impacts.

32. PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Eligibility:
All organisations

Citation:
Recognises efforts of organisations that built durable collaborations or partnerships that enhance the trade facilitation industry. Judges look at existence of shared agreements to cooperate and work together for mutual benefit and how it benefits the industry.

33. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Eligibility:
All organizations

Citation:
Recognises organisations that embrace social responsibility through actions and encourage positive impact via their activities benefiting not only the industry but the public at large. Entry may be a one-off initiative or long-standing structured CSR programme. Judges look at the issues addressed, process/project/program design and evidence of positive social impact.

34. MEDIA HOUSE AWARD

Eligibility:
All print and electronic media organizations operating in Kenya

Citation:
Recognises outstanding work of a media house or news organisation that promotes professionalism and excellence in reporting on trade facilitation. Judges look at media houses that go beyond normal reporting, suggest ways to address trade facilitation issues and show commitment to excellence in trade-facilitation reporting.

35. OVERALL TRADE FACILITATOR AWARD (INSTITUTION)

Eligibility:
All participating organizations

Citation:
[Judging criteria not specified on the site excerpt]

36. RISING STAR IN TRADE FACILITATION AWARD

Eligibility:
Industry practitioners under the age of 35

Citation:
Recognises a mature emerging trade facilitator whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth in contribution to the profession and industry, and increasing levels of leadership, responsibility and impact. Eligible nominees may not be senior leaders, but their track-record reflects strong career trajectory and potential for appointment at highest levels.

37. OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN TRADE FACILITATION AWARD

Eligibility:
Senior Leaders

Citation:
Recognises people who have gone the extra mile to support and motivate their staff and peers; whose positive energy spills over into the atmosphere they create; role-models and inspirational leaders for their organisations.

38. OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN TRADE FACILITATION AWARD

Eligibility:
Women in trade facilitation

Citation:
Recognises an individual woman who has demonstrated a significant level of involvement in the trade facilitation organisation over an extended period, willingness to serve and assist other women in personal and professional development and contributed to others’ successes as well as her own.

39. TRADE FACILITATION LIFETIME AWARD

Eligibility:
Current or retired individuals who have dedicated over 20 years of their career to trade facilitation

Citation:
Recognises lasting contributions, leadership, enthusiasm and tireless efforts of industry luminaries who’ve committed themselves to elevating and enhancing the trade facilitation industry including exceptional and long-standing achievements in the industry.