SOBA is back with companies now being able to compete for new award

(From left) CGC chief corporate officer Abdul Rahim Raduan, RHB Banking Group head of group business and transaction banking Jeffrey Ng Eow Oo, Star Media Group group managing directorand CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, DiGi chief business officer Eugene Teh, PKT Logistics Group group chief executive and managing director Datuk Michael Tio and Matrade senior director of strategic planning division Datuk Aureen Jean Nonis at the launch of SOBA 2018 at Menara Star. AZMAN GHANI / The Star .

PETALING JAYA: The Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) is back for the ninth year.

This year, companies will be able to compete for a new award - Best Use of Technology.

For this award, applicants will be evaluated based on the most effective use and integration of technology into their business to have an edge in the marketplace.

SOBA 2018 also welcomed, for the first time, RHB Banking Group as a main sponsor, and New World Petaling Jaya Hotel as the official venue.

Additionally, DiGi, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd and Credit Guarantee Corporation have returned as sponsors of the award and Matrade as official trade promotion partner.

"SOBA is a collective effort by Star Media Group in recognising home-grown enterprises and their contributions to the country's economy. These awards are not just given to companies that do well in their bottom lines but to companies that are at the forefront of the industries they are in," said Star Media Group Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai at the launch of SOBA 2018 on Friday.

The awards will continue to have two broad categories - one for enterprises with a turnover of over RM25mil and another for those generating less than that per annum.

SOBA has eight Top-Of-The-Class awards, namely Best in Marketing, Best Brand, Best in CSR, Best Green Initiative, Best Employer, Best Innovation, Best Global Market and Best Use of Technology.

There are three Outstanding Achievement awards - Rising Star, Entrepreneur of the Year (male/female/young) and Malaysian Business of the Year.

This year's winners will be rewarded with over RM1mil worth of advertising space in Star Media Group's platform.

For the Top-Of-The-Class awards, Platinum winners will receive RM50,000 worth of ad space in print and online; Gold winners will receive RM30,000 worth of ad space in print and online while Silver winners will receive RM20,000 worth of ad space in print.

Grand Winners for the Outstanding Achievement Awards will be rewarded with RM50,000 worth of ad space in print and online.

SOBA is open to all local enterprises that are not part of a multinational group or listed group incorporated in Malaysia with foreign equity not exceeding 50%.

Those who wish to participate may obtain the Awards submission pack from The Star or download the forms from the microsite at www.soba.com.my.

Deadline for entries is Oct 19, 2018.

SOBA 2018 is endorsed by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, supported by Bursa Malaysia and audited by BDO with 988, SuriaFM and dimsum as official media partners.

For more information on SOBA 2018, call The Star Events Business Unit at 03-7967 1388 ext 1432 (Jasmine)/1857 (Pei Wen) or visit www.soba.com.my.