Recipients of the 2017 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards pose in the Capitol’s Old House Chamber today. Eight companies including three BCA members were honored for their excellence in foreign trade. Presenting the awards were Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, center, and Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, to her right. (Photo Courtesy of Alabama Governor’s Office)
Three Business Council of Alabama members received the 2017 Governor’s Trade Excellence Award today during a ceremony in the Old House Chamber in the Capitol for their achievements in exporting goods and services globally.
APM Terminals Mobile LLC, Honda Manufacturing of America in Lincoln, and Synovus in Birmingham received the awards that were presented by Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield.
The Governor’s Trade Excellence Award was inaugurated in 2006 to demonstrate the exporting excellence of Alabama businesses and to celebrate their export successes, Gov. Bentley’s office said.
The award ceremony and luncheon were sponsored by the Export Alabama Alliance that includes the BCA.
“The companies we are recognizing today serve as examples to the rest of the state,” Gov. Robert Bentley said in a prepared statement. “They provide quality products and services, and they continue to find ways to excel.”
Gov. Bentley did not attend the ceremony due to his brief hospitalization to undergo a procedure for an irregular heartbeat, Canfield announced.
“These awards give us the opportunity to recognize the importance for small and medium-size and larger entities across the state … who sell to 155 countries,” Canfield said. “All major industry segments are involved. This is a remarkable achievement for a small Southeastern state with a small population.”
Alabama exported a record $20.5 billion worth of goods in 2016, a 6.4 percent increase from 2015, Canfield said. The top export segment was transportation goods.
APM Terminals is a leading global and cargo inland services provider with a presence in 69 countries. APM Terminals Mobile opened for business in 2008 and employs 150 people.
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln employs about 4,500 associates and makes three Honda brand automobiles and a pickup truck. It began operating in 2001.
The 127-year-old Synovus provides international banking services from five Southeast states including in Birmingham where the international banking division is located. Synovus employs a total of 4,452 people.