THE progress for applications for the Women in Business (WIB) awards has been very good and encouraging, says WIB president Dr Nur Bano Ali.

Dr Ali said this year’s awards night would be different with a great theme and also an expectation of a great turn out.

The applications, she said, had increased this year and would be finalised on February 8.

With this, she says, the manager of the year category recorded the most applications.

“This is the fastest growing in terms of women’s participation in the business world in Fiji,” Dr Ali said.

She said there were more than 50 applications received so far.

The preparations leading up to the event, she says, have been excellent and their committee for that has got most of it under control. In terms of the chief guest and speaker during the awards night, Dr Ali says, they have not confirmed the chief guest yet but it will be a prominent woman.

With no confirmation on the date of the awards this year, Dr Ali proposed late March to early April, adding they would announce the official date later.

For sponsorship of the award, she said, Westpac Bank had been the gold sponsor for a number of years.

“Most of the sponsors from last year are continuing — Digicel, Aliz Pacific, and all the media partners, Communications Fiji Ltd, The Fiji Times and Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.”

The two new sponsors, she said, were Pacific Agencies and Fast Kill.

* The Fiji Times is a print media partner for the Women in Business awards.