HONG KONG, February 18, 2013—The third annual Asia Pacific Junior Achievement Company of the Year competition will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Feb. 25-27, 2013. 17 teams representing 10 markets are expected to compete in this business competition and learning experience.
The competition helps young people understand the role of business in the global economy by allowing students to organize and operate an actual business enterprise, and market and sell a product in the real world. It is jointly organised by FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, and U.S.-based JA Worldwide, the world’s largest organization dedicated to empowering young people to own their economic success.
The event will be held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, located in the business and shopping district and housed within a 10-level shopping mall. Teams will be participating from the following markets: China, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkmenistan.
During the three-day program in Kuala Lumpur, 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, which will be open to the public.
In addition to the JA Company of the Year Award, 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 Company of the Year Competition and the FedEx Access Award will be announced on February 27, 2013.
“FedEx advocates access because we strongly believe that the ability to connect 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 2011-2012 school year, more than 355,000 students participated in this program globally.