Seventy-seven companies and 23 individuals in the logistics industry in eight countries in the Middle East will be vying for the 28 prestigious Middle East Logistics Awards (Mela) performance excellence awards in logistics as the Mela Awards 2006 steps into the second phase with the opening of the voting process on October 18.

The list of nominees that made it to the Mela ballot came from the nomination process, which started on August 22, 2006, and ended on October 5.
 Winners for the Mela Awards 2006 will be determined by the Middle East logistics community as they cast their votes for the best companies and outstanding individuals from the industry. A massive media campaign is underway through print, online and visual media to encourage the participation of the entire ME logistics community in the voting process for the Mela Awards.
 The awards are the first-ever event in the Middle East that will bring together the region’s key logistics industry players as they set benchmarks for performance excellence and recognise the industry’s best practices and give a toast to stellar performers who have made an impact on the region’s logistics industry through their valuable contributions. 
 In the award category for air, six awards await the Best Airport, the Best Emerging Airport, the Best Air Cargo Terminal, the Best Express Operator, the Best Air Cargo Carrier, and the Best Air Charter Operator. For the sea category, four awards lie in wait for the Best Seaport, the Best Container Terminal, the Best Emerging Container Terminal, and the Best Shipping Line. For the land category, awards are instituted for the Best Road Hauler and the Best Land Freight Forwarder. Awards are also in store for shippers to recognise the Best Exporter and Best Importer. Awards for the Best Logistics Park (Air), Best Logistics Park (Sea) and Best Emerging Free Zone have been incorporated, while awards for the Best Logistics Service Provider in Sea Freight, Air Freight, Perishable Logistics and Best 3PL are also in place. Key industry players will also be rewarded as the Best Project and Special Cargo Provider and the Best Trade Finance Bank.
 But the Mela Awards 2006 not only give a toast to institutions but also to the deserving individuals who demonstrated leadership and contributed vitally to the development of the Middle East logistics industry. The five prime individual awards in logistics are the Outstanding Achievement Award, Personality of the Year Award - Maritime Industry, Personality of the Year Award – Air Cargo Industry, Personality of the Year Award – Land Transport Industry and the Young Achiever of the Year Award.
 The voting process for the awards is open until November 5, 2006, 24 hours. The ballot forms are distributed in newspapers, and trade and business magazines in the entire Middle East. Duly filled-in ballots can be couriered to the Mela Executive Office, 401 & 402 Bu Haleeba Plaza, Al Muraqqabat Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE (Tel: +971 4 297 6987). Voting can also be done online through the Mela website www.mela.ae. A grand celebration awaits the Mela Awards 2006 winners at the grandiose Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE, on November 21, 2006.