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MALAYSIA – FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation company, together with Junior Achievement (JA), announced the six winners of the annual FedEx Express / Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx/JA ITC) 2020. The winners will advance to the FedEx Express / JA ITC Regional Finals which will be held in March 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s FedEx Express / JA ITC Malaysian competition was held virtually for the first time since the competition began in 2008. This year, 542 students from the Central Region and Penang participated in a series of nine intensive virtual workshops held from 27 July to 8 September. In the workshops, volunteers from JA Malaysia and 24 FedEx mentored the students and guided them through the development of their plans.
At the FedEx / JA ITC Malaysia finals, 15 shortlisted teams presented their market entry strategy plans for a travel product with Cambodia as the target market. Applying the insights and knowledge gained from the virtual workshops, students presented their team’s business plan with value proposition, pricing strategies, identified market opportunities, and distribution channels to a distinguished panel of judges including CS Goh, Co-Founder and Chief Corporate Officer at MACROKIOSK Group, Lin Nah Tan, Chief Executive Officer of INTI International University & Colleges and Jack Farrell, Entrepreneur in Residence at START.
This year, the three winning teams are:
- Team BioDroplets: Pranav Kashyap and Pooja Nishani from Global Indian International School, who developed a Techno-Bio drinking bottle that can purify water on the go. It is aimed at tourists who do not have access to readily available clean drinking water. The product also targets to reduce plastic bottle waste normally generated by tourists during their travels.
- Team ViRo Tech Inc.: Rosalind Naruniranat and Vivian Ung Wei Lin from SMK Convent Green Lane, who developed an affordable personal mobility device – the Fit-Walk – which has a low fuel requirement. The product is aimed at working individuals who are unable to purchase a full-fledged car or those with poor access to public transport.
- Team Aurora: Poi Shie Chee and Clarisse Chin Xiao Hwei from SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 3, who developed a water bottle called WASH-ed that can filter and purify water on the go. It is designed with a 2-Stage filter that can remove disease-causing pathogens.
“The determination and commitment from the students despite the global pandemic is exemplary. They embraced the new normal in joining the virtual workshops and the Malaysian finale. We hope this valuable program, now in its 13th year, continues to shape our future global business leaders for the 21st century marketplace. We look forward to the winning teams representing Malaysia proudly in the regional finals,” said SC Chong, Managing Director of FedEx Express Malaysia.
“JA Malaysia is proud to continue collaborating with FedEx Express Malaysia in educating and empowering our youth. In this changed environment, we were able to adapt the various modules into a virtual blended learning format, with the support of FedEx Express volunteers. This also serves as a mock simulation for the participants to see what it would be like to start a business in a post-pandemic environment,” said Stuart Dean, chairman of JA Malaysia.
The FedEx Express / JA ITC regional finals will be held in mid-March 2021, where students from 7 other international countries such as Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand will also participate in this competition.
About FedEx Express / Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge
Sponsored by FedEx Express for 13 years now, the FedEx Express / JA ITC program is held in collaboration with Junior Achievement (JA) Malaysia, one of the world’s largest non-governmental organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people through a series of in-school and after-school programs. The FedEx Express / JA ITC provides the platform for students to gain first-hand experience of international trade and entrepreneurship, while cultivating a business mindset. To date, through FedEx Express / JA ITC, it has impacted more than 6,005 students in Malaysia alongside a milestone success where 2 Malaysian students emerged as the Top 3 teams in the FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge (ITC) Asia Pacific Regional Finals 2019.
Designed to foster business knowledge through practical teamwork exercises and classroom learning, the FedEx Express / Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx Express / JA ITC) program comprises two key activities: The International Trade Workshop and the International Trade Challenge.
To enter the FedEx Express / JA ITC, students in teams of two have to develop a specific product or service and create an original international marketing plan for a designated country. Through this process, students gain first-hand experience of what roles world trade, product distribution and sales play in a market environment. In addition to teamwork, participating students learn the basics of risk evaluation in the business world and gain confidence in their analytical ability.
For more info, visit www.facebook.com/AsiaPacificITC.
About JA Asia Pacific Limited
JA Asia Pacific Limited is a member of JA Worldwide®, one of the largest global NGOs dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.
JA Asia Pacific Limited is dedicated to enabling and empowering youth to benefit from the region’s economic development, and to create a positive impact in their lives and communities. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Asia Pacific Limited provides in school and after school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. JA Asia Pacific envisions a future that young people dream big and, as a group, drive productive social and economic change.
The 18 Members JA Asia Pacific network is powered by over 30,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 650,000 students around the region.
For more information, visit www.jaasiapacific.org.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date supported by a money-back guarantee[1].
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $75 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com.
[1] Subject to relevant terms and conditions
Source: FedEx Express Malaysia (Press release)
