Entries close on July 2. The judges are Mike Atkins of ASB, Alasdair Macleod of ExportNZ, Susan White of Business Hawke's Bay and Amanda Martin of NZ Trade and Enterprise.
The judges will visit the finalists between July 3 and 16.
ExportNZ Hawke's Bay executive officer Amanda Liddle said Hawke's Bay companies punched above their weight as exporters, contributing 9 per cent of New Zealand's port exports, worth $4.4 billion a year.
There was further potential to grow equipment manufacturing, food and wood processing, and biotechnology sectors in the region, she said.
"Companies are ideally placed to take advantage of that potential, having the North Island's second largest export port by volume right on their doorstep."
Sponsor Garth Cowie, Napier Port chief executive, said the port had a long history serving exporters. About 95 per cent of all exports through the port are produced within 60km of it.
Entry forms, criteria details, and registration forms for the awards dinner, which will be held on July 30 at The Old Church, Meannee, are available on the ExportNZ website www.exportnz.org.nz.