No.9089   2005. 4. 11

Australian Embassy's Australia Import Award 2005 Goes to Suntorys
- Company Praised for Combining Leading Technologies of Australia and Japan, Including the Development of Blue Rose -

Suntory Limited has received the Australia Import Award 2005 from the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.

The award recognizes Suntory's successful efforts to combine leading technologies from both Japan and Australia in projects to develop a blue rose, and to develop and market a blue carnation.

Suntory began collaborating with the Australian firm Florigene Limited to develop a blue rose in 1990. The use of genetic recombination techniques resulted in the development of the world's first rose with nearly 100% blue pigment in its petals. The companies announced the breakthrough in June 2004. Born of the same techniques, the blue carnation “Moon dust” was developed in 1995, and marketed in Australia in 1996 and Japan the next year.

•The Australia Import Award
This award is given by the Australian government to Japanese companies that create unique businesses and develop new industrial fields by importing Australian products and services. Suntory was one of five companies to receive the award in 2005, the first year the award was given.

▽ Further information:
　Suntory Ltd.
　(Osaka) TEL: 06-6346-0835
　Dojimahama 2-1-40, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-8203, Japan
　(Tokyo) TEL: 03-5579-1150
　Daiba 2-3-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-8631, Japan
　Suntory HP:http://www.suntory.co.jp/