SINGAPORE, February 14, 2014—The fourth annual Asia Pacific JA Company of the Year competition will take place in Singapore from February 17-19, 2014. Fifteen teams representing nine markets in Asia are expected to compete in this business competition and learning experience. Sixty-four students will be participating from the following markets: China, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
The competition is organised by U.S.-based JA Worldwide, the world’s largest organization dedicated to empowering young people to own their economic success. Signature Award Sponsorship is provided by FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company. The program helps young people understand the role of business in the global economy by allowing students, under mentorship, to organize and operate an actual business enterprise, and market and sell a product in the real world.
During the three-day program in Singapore, student companies will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of entrepreneurs, academics, and representatives from the local business community. The participating student companies will be on display at a trade fair exhibition to be held at United Square Shopping mall on February 19, which will be open to the public.
In addition to the JA Company of the Year Awards, student companies will also be competing for the FedEx Access Award. This award rewards student companies who demonstrate the most potential to create jobs, grow small business, expand global development and improve the environment. Winners of the JA Company of the Year Competition and the FedEx Access Award will be announced on February 19, 2014.
“At FedEx, we have witnessed how access, which is the ability to connect, has fundamentally changed what’s possible for people, businesses and communities. We strongly believe that access brings about opportunities and positive change. With the JA Company of the Year competition and the FedEx Access Award, FedEx wants to connect today’s youths to the international markets, ideas, and people and inspire and empower them to succeed in global business,” said David L. Cunningham Jr., president of FedEx Express Asia-Pacific.
The competition celebrates the accomplishments of JA Company Program® students in the Asia Pacific region. During participation in the JA Company Program, students start and run their own businesses with support from volunteers from their local business community. They develop and market a product or service with the goal of realizing a profit for their shareholders. During the 2012-2013 school year, 393,127 students participated in this program globally.
About JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement)
JA Worldwide is 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. Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, JA Worldwide effectively broadens the canvas of possibility for young people, and enriches their ability to both engage in the their own economic development as well as contribute to the strength of their families, communities and economies. The 121-country JA Worldwide network is powered by 400,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching 10.2 million students around the world. For more information, visit www.jaworldwide.org.
About JA Asia Pacific
JA Asia Pacific is an operating region of JA Worldwide serving over 800,000 young people in 20 Asian Pacific countries, with the support of over 20,000 volunteers.
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 with a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $45 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.