Codan wins national export award

South Australian-based technology firm Codan took out the national export award for ICT at a special ceremony in Brisbane last week.

The Australian Export Awards is one of Australia’s most prestigious and longest- running business award programs. It celebrates the contribution that Australian companies make to the country’s economy.

The 49th Awards ceremony was co-presented by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Codan was one of eight IT finalists nominated for the awards at the gala event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Headquartered in Adelaide, Codan manufactures and supplies communications, metal detection, and electronic equipment and boast a revenue of  revenue of $189.3 million last year

So far its product range has been sold to customers in more than 150 countries.

In 2011, the company was awarded an exclusive sourcing contract from the US-Africa Command, based in Germany.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson said the wide range and high calibre of the winning group reflected the depth and diversity of the Australian economy.

“Australia is a vibrant, competitive economy which owes its good reputation in the world to its entrepreneurs, business people and investors,” Dr Emerson said.

"With the high Australian dollar making life difficult for most of our exporters, these finalists and so many more have excelled in finding new ways of successfully marketing their products and services in tough global markets."