TWO Toowoomba businesses have been named finalists in the prestigious 2016 Premier of Queensland's Export Awards.

The awards celebrates business excellence in international trade where exporters across the state compete for 12 industry categories.

Cranley manufacturer CJ NutraCon is a finalist in the regional exporter category while Harristown agriculture design, manufacture and solution provider FarmscanAg is a contender in the small business section.

Export Council of Australia CEO Lisa McAuley said Queensland never failed to impress with its wide range of industry sectors consistently punching above their weight.

"This year we were excited to see an increase in new talent across digital technologies, creative industries, environmental solutions and small business," she said. 

"Trade and investment is a key driver of jobs, innovation and long-term prosperity for Australia. At the Export Council of Australia, we believe that in the long term, Australian jobs are best protected and created in an open competitive economic system."

Ms McAuley said increasing trade and investment was absolutely crucial to unlocking Australia's future economic growth.

"The competition is extremely tough and we are thrilled to see a number of new names recognised for their tremendous efforts; it's fantastic to also see the diversity of the companies that entered the awards this year," she said.

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 20, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre with both Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad as special guests.

The 2016 Premier of Queensland's Export Awards finalists are:

Agribusiness
• Golden Harvest Grain Exports
• Morlife
• Stockyard
• FarmscanAg

Minerals and Energy
• Blast Movement Technologies
• Dynamic G-Ex
• Access Innovations
• Ensight 

Creative Industries
• Circa
• Populous
• Grace Loves Lace
• Cutting Edge

Education and Training
• Charlton Brown
• Cairns College of English & Business
• Aviation Australia
• Griffith University

Environmental Solutions
• Tritium
• Aqualuma LED lighting
• Residue Solutions
• Hall Contracting

E-Commerce
• Grace Loves Lace
• Halfbrick Studios
• Opmantek
• Queensland Food Corporation

Digital Technologies
• Opmantek
• GO1
• Hydric Media
• Statseeker

Manufacturing
• Ferra Engineering
• Aqualuma LED Lighting
• Aim Lab Automation Technologies
• Evolve Skateboards

Health & Biotechnology
• PharmaData
• Rapid Nutrition
• Aim Lab Automation Technologies
• SmartCap Technologies

Business Services
• UQ Business School Executive Education
• Australian Certified Organic
• Ferra Engineering
• Populous 

Regional Exporter
• Higher Ground Australia
• CJ NutraCon
• Evolve Skateboards
• Knotwood

Small Business
• Typefi Systems
• Gruntify
• FarmscanAg
• Residue Solutions