Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 29, 2025 — Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, continues its long-standing commitment to youth empowerment through the 2025 FedEx/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx/JAITC). This year’s challenge brought together bright young minds from across the country to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas and global trade strategies, with the top six students selected to represent Malaysia at the upcoming FedEx/JAITC Asia Pacific regional finals to be held in Singapore in August 2025.
Now in its 17th year, the FedEx/JA ITC program in Malaysia aims to spark entrepreneurial thinking and cultivate global business acumen among secondary school students. In collaboration with JA Malaysia, a non-profit organization committed to inspiring and preparing young Malaysians to succeed in a global economy, the program offers students real-world insights into international trade through hands-on workshops and team-based challenges.
This year’s competition challenged students to develop a Market Entry Strategy Plan (MESP) for a sustainable fashion solution aimed at minimising product return waste for China. Their ideas showcased critical thinking, creativity and a deep understanding of sustainable business solutions relevant to today’s global landscape.
The six winning students who will represent Malaysia at the 2025 regional finals are:
1. Team: Banana Bloom
Names of students: Zilyi Lim Zhi Yue & Wong Pei Yen
School: SMJK Katholik
Product name: NanaBanana
Product presented: A sustainable clothing brand made from banana silk blended with hemp fabric and co-designed by elderly people. Customers can return used garments to be composted with local partners, contributing to the growth of new banana trees. The initiative aims to combat fast fashion by reducing waste through upcycling.
2. Team: Clover
Names of students: Tan Zheng Yu & Valerie Yong Jia Syuen
School: SMJK Chung Hwa
Product name: Clover
Product presented: A personal digital wardrobe designed to revolutionize interaction with fashion. Clover offers artificial intelligence–powered personal styling, a smart “closet compass” for organizing clothing, a dedicated style concierge and augmented reality visualization for effortless outfit planning. It helps users make the most of what they already own, enjoy the thrill of thrifting and wear the same outfits in new ways, with confidence and ease.
3. Team: Pure Tag
Names of students: Ada Asif & Nina George
School: Tanarata International School
Product name: Jing Bao
Product presented: Jing Biao is a smart, tamper-evident piece of clothing designed to prevent return fraud. It uses sweat-and detergent-sensitive ink that reacts to moisture or cleaning agents, helping to identify if a garment has been worn or washed. The garment is recyclable and its outer layer is made from unsellable or out-of-fashion clothing, giving these garments a second life. This helps reduce landfill waste by repurposing clothes that would otherwise be thrown away.
They will join fellow finalists from across the region - including Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - for a dynamic exchange of ideas and entrepreneurial vision. The event will serve as a platform for cross-cultural collaboration, teamwork and the development of future-ready business leaders.
This format promotes cultural collaboration, encourages different perspectives, and allows students to apply essential business skills in a real-world international setting. Finalists will also have the chance to connect with FedEx leaders, and industry experts, further enhancing their global learning experience.
“The business landscape is evolving rapidly, making it essential to build a strong foundation for the next generation,” said Tien Long Woon, managing director of FedEx Malaysia. “As Malaysia cultivates entrepreneurial talent, it is important that young people are equipped with business skills alongside a global mindset - one that empowers them to explore international markets and seize opportunities in an increasingly connected world. This program plays a key role in that journey, broadening perspectives, building confidence and helping students see what is possible beyond the classroom.”
Since 2008, the FedEx/JA ITC program has reached over 9,900 Malaysian students, nurturing a generation of forward-thinking youth with the drive to innovate and lead. Over the years, Malaysian participants have made their mark on the regional stage - including two students placing in the Top 3 in 2019 and a standout first-place win in last year’s regional finals. These achievements reflect the strong, ongoing collaboration between FedEx and JA Malaysia in fostering innovation and preparing tomorrow’s leaders.