The winner of the 2014 Westpac Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award, Mark One Apparel has scooped the award on its 25th anniversary.

Mark One Apparel Managing Director Mark Halabe says the win is extra special.

Halabe says garments made in Fiji are doing well in countries like Australia where his company has been exporting for years.

“I promised the industry that the next 10 years would be a $500 million export business rather than just odd few hundred million as it is now. We have a future we have a government in place today that is pragmatic it wants the best for us all.”

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji’s exports are expected to grow by eight percent this year and further growth is expected next year.

“Our foreign reserves are strong. They currently stand at 1.8 billion dollars, enough to cover around 4.6 months of imports. Our foreign reserves import cover has consistently been above 4 months since 2009. Never before have we maintained such a strong foreign-reserves position for five consecutive years.”

Bainimarama acknowledged that the Government and the private sector can share credit for this.

He encouraged exporters to find markets while the Government will create an enabling environment.