The Business Center Corporation (BCC), under an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, has officially announced the nominations for the Maldives MSME Awards, designed to recognise and encourage the achievements of the island nation's smallest and medium enterprises.
Seven distinct categories are now open for public voting, with businesses competing for recognition in a total of 20 categories, including 13 selected by a panel of judges.
The publicly voted categories showcase a diverse range of Maldivian talent and entrepreneurial spirit. Nominees in these sectors include:
Food Production Sector: My Cakes and Sweets, Palato, Foodies, Baba Gaadiyaa, Meraki
Lifestyle Brand: Tropical Designs, Shop at Mary, Island Touch Maldives, Toddy, Basque
Clothing Design and Fashion: Fatima, Laiba, Linco, Munika, Falak
Entertainment Sector: Detune Band, Thirty-eight
Drawing and Crafts: Oevali Art Shop, Bybees, Macrama, Levelier, Abdi Maldives
Photography Sector: iCandy, Lights Out, Sarim Photos
Most Popular Marketing Firm: Loop Craft, Publicity Bureau, Open Sky Group
Public voting for these seven categories is conducted via SMS, with the deadline set for 3 November at 12:00 pm. In parallel, the evaluation phase for the remaining 13 judge-selected categories is currently underway.
These awards aim to recognise the vital work being done by small businesses, serving as an additional force in opening up new markets and acknowledging the productivity, skills, and progress of Maldivian workers and enterprises.
The initiative has been widely welcomed by the small and medium enterprise community, eager for recognition of their contributions to the national economy.