The search to find Northern Ireland's best small and medium-sized exporting business is under way following the inception of British Trade International's 1999 Export Awards for Smaller Businesses. The competition is open to companies with up to 250 employees; 12 winners will be chosen from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the nine English regions.

Last year's Northern Ireland winner was the Belfast firm, Digital Engineering. The company won the award on the basis of its export performance, with overseas earnings increasing threefold over two years to nearly £1.5 million sterling.