Maine International Trade Center has announced the winners of its 2016 international trade and investment awards.

Portland’s Kepware Technologies received the exporter of the year award, which recognizes a manufacturer that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to international trade through increased exports.

The company designs software to help businesses connect diverse automation devices and software. It increased revenue by more than 60 percent since 2012, in large part because of strong growth in international markets, according to a release from MITC. In 2015, bookings outside of North America accounted for 42 percent of Kepware’s total revenue.

Eimskip, the Icelandic shipping company that made Portland its U.S. headquarters in 2013, was named foreign direct investor of the year. The award is presented annually to recognize foreign-owned companies that have invested in Maine by either opening a plant or enhancing their existing operations here.

Eimskip set a goal of providing weekly container service by 2020, making Portland a viable export/import option for more manufacturers and distributors with business interests in Northern Europe.

Allen Insurance and Financial of Camden received the service provider of the year award, which recognizes a company that has established an international presence. An employee-owned company, Allen Insurance works with clients locally and insures passenger-carrying vessels and their employees all over the world.

Mt. Blue Campus is a state-of-the-art facility consisting of Mt. Blue High School and Foster Career and Technical Education Center in Farmington. The facility won MITC’s innovator of the year award.

The classrooms of the high school and technical center are located side-by-side within the Mt. Blue Campus, which exposes both local and international students to a variety of subjects and provides faculty opportunities for interdisciplinary instruction. The technical program provides cutting-edge courses in composite manufacturing, biotechnology and robotics.

The awards will be presented during Maine International Trade Day on May 26 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

During the ceremony, two individuals will also receive awards. Adrian Kendall, honorary consul of Germany for Maine and New Hampshire and attorney at Norman Hanson & DeTroy, has been selected to receive the president’s award for an individual who has displayed exceptional support to MITC.

Former MITC intern Joe Long will receive the future global leader award in recognition of his outstanding efforts as a research assistant.

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