Asia Matters Business Awards
Entries Closed
The Asia Matters Business Awards, held in partnership with The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the Awards recognise Irish companies with a strategic focus on Asia and Asian companies making significant investment in Ireland.
Winners of the Awards will be announced at The Asia Matters Business Awards, with Keynote Speaker Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism & Employment. of 2 December 2025 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin.
Winning an Asia Matters Business Award will give you huge credibility with Asian partners, buyers and future customers
Judging Criteria:
The Asia Matters Business Awards judging panel includes senior government and private sector leaders all of whom have experience in international business. All information supplied is treated as strictly confidential. Each category has specific criteria as outlined below.
For guidance please see areas applicants should focus on:
- Clear evidence of an innovative and well executed globalisation strategy focussed on Asia/Middle East with demonstrable business results in the markets outlined above and ability to sustain that growth.
- Ambition to scale with strategic commitment to the region at CEO/Board level – this may include building talent hubs in market and/or acquisition.
- Evidence of sustainable competitive advantage and clear product or service differentiation with a clear fit for the target market(s).
- A deep understanding of the local business culture (s).
- Key contributing factors driving growth such as strengths in innovation, branding and communications, new product design, strategic partnership, legal & regulatory, sustainability and manufacturing & distribution.
Award Judges
2025 Categories
1/ High Potential – Asia Market Entry
To identify and recognise a high potential start up with a viable product or service which is surpassing its potential, has excellent product differentiation and is demonstrating a commitment to enter markets in Asia and/or the Middle East.
2/ Life Sciences Exporter of the Year
Ireland’s life sciences sector has earned a global reputation for innovation and quality, with Ireland now recognised as a global life sciences hub, with a significant reputation for MedTech.
This award will recognise companies in the life sciences sector for their achievements in Exporting to Asia and/or the Middle East. Includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, MedTech, digital health, and bio-pharmaceutical companies.
3/ Climate Tech Exporter of the Year
Reducing emissions, decarbonisation, flooding and water shortage are whole of society challenges, and global leaders including those across Asia are increasingly turning to Irish innovators for solutions to address climate and sustainability issues in key sectors such as agriculture, construction and alternative energy sources.
This award will recognise Ireland’s companies pioneering cutting-edge products and services to address Asia’s nutrition challenges and sustainable practices.
4/ Retail Exporter of the Year
This award will recognise leading health, beauty, apparel and homeware companies Exporting to Asia and the Middle East.
5/ Higher Education Partnership of the Year
This award rewards strategic higher education partnership with an Asian or Middle Eastern institution.
Moving beyond a focus on revenue from Asian students, the judges will be looking for a more sustainable and mutually supportive relationship based on elements such as joint programmes, shared research, staff exchange and mutual student mobility.
6/ Tourism Partner of the Year
The Tourism industry is vital to Ireland’s economic prosperity – expenditure by overseas tourists in the country in 2024 was €6 billion, up 11% on 2023 based on CSO data. As Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, it is also the biggest regional employer with a remarkable 257,900 people working in tourism and hospitality businesses. This category is open to hotels retail and tourist venues with a strong Asia and/or Middle East offering.
7/ Food & Drink Exporter of the Year
With Ireland’s heritage and continuous improvement through research and innovation in areas including productivity, sustainable food processing, health and nutrition, Irish Food & Drink exporters have a strong reputation as being quality food across Asia.
This award will recognise those businesses delivering well differentiated innovative food & drink products across Asian and/or Middle Eastern markets.
8/ FinTech, Financial & Business Services Exporter of the Year
Ireland’s overseas and indigenous companies are creating innovative products and services and are ideal partners or service providers for fintech and financial services across Asia.
This award will recognise overseas and indigenous Financial Services, Fintech and Business Service Providers trading and building strong partnerships in Asia and/or the Middle East.
9/ Technology Exporter of the Year
Ireland has a strong technology global export footprint in many sectors including Aerospace, Advanced Manufacturing, Sports Tech, Education Tech, AgriTech and Digital Tech. This category also includes technology services organisations who have a clear globalisation strategy focussed on the region through building talent hubs and/or acquisition.
This award will recognise the achievements of cutting edge Irish companies innovators playing a pivotal and disruptive role in Asia with their cutting-edge services, solutions and exceptional talent.
10/ Exporter of the Year
This Blue Riband award will be presented to the overall exporter of the year chosen by the judges from the category winners.
Hear from Past Award Winners on the importance of winning an Asia Matter Business Awards to their business in Asia.
About the Sponsors
The IDA is Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency, a semi-state body promoting Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland through a wide range of services. We partner with potential and existing investors to help them establish or expand their operations in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. We work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.
