“Five categories comprising nine awards in total will be up for contention at this year’s awards. Winners will automatically qualify for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Quality Awards,” said Davies.

The awards also aim to motivate business to improve their business practices, industrial competitiveness and promote economic growth by offering the highest quality products and services, said the minister.

The awards came about as a result of an agreement approved by SADC ministers in 2009, with the goal of recognising enterprises who are contributing to quality advancement in SADC countries.