MALAYSIA, August 10, 2022 – FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, together with Junior Achievement (JA), announced the six Malaysian students who won the 2022 FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge (FedEx Express / JA ITC) Malaysian Finals. The students will now advance to compete at the FedEx Express / JA ITC Asia Pacific Regional Finals, scheduled for August 2022.
FedEx Express Malaysia and JA have been hosting the FedEx Express / JA ITC since 2008, and to date, the competition has impacted more than 7,000 students in Malaysia. The FedEx Express / JA ITC aims to nurture students with relevant knowledge and experience as well as to equip them with business and project management skills that are beneficial for their entrepreneurial growth.
For the second consecutive year, the 2022 FedEx Express / JA ITC was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and received the participation of more than 650 secondary school students from 21 schools across Malaysia. A total of six virtual workshops took place throughout the month of April, supported by FedEx employees as volunteers who facilitated the students throughout the workshop and competition, and guided them on how to present their business ideas and plans.
In the FedEx Express / JA ITC Malaysian Finals, the participating teams presented their market entry strategy plans to a panel of judges comprising Lim Seng Giap, Sr. Manager Operations of FedEx Express Malaysia; Maran Virumandi, Founder of Doctor on Call and Shobie Malani, Festival Director of Murfest. The teams were evaluated based on their market entry strategy for a health product in Cambodia by applying insights and knowledge gained from the virtual workshops.
Sr. Manager Operations of FedEx Express Malaysia, Mr. Lim Seng Giap said, “It’s yet another challenging pandemic year, especially for students, but all the participants displayed a high level of passion, perseverance and competitive spirit which is truly inspiring. As the competition enters its 16th year, we are indeed honoured to continue our strategic collaboration with JA in organizing this annual competition, in line with our quest to mould the entrepreneurial spirit of our future leaders and prepare them for the 21st-century workplace. Kudos to all participants and winners!”
The winning teams comprise of:
- Team Nimol: Goh Zi Yu and Low Yi Su from SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 3, created a go-to filtration water bottle called CHANGE as Cambodians face poor water sanitization and waterborne diseases. CHANGE comprises a hollow fiber membrane filter, making it easier to clean and has a long lifespan. The target market is charity organizations and children aged between 4 to 12 years old, especially middle and lower-class Cambodians, as they critically require access to clean water.
- Team Nutriiene: Ahil Asif and Ong Wei Xiang from Tanarata International Schools, developed the Banthem sachets which contain all the necessary nutrients to boost the immune system in children, preventing premature deaths. 1 in every 8 children below the age of five dies every day in Cambodia predominantly due to pneumonia, fever and measles. These Banthem sachets have nutrients like zinc, vitamin D3 and probiotics, and they can also be stored at room temperature, which solves the problem of Cambodia’s lack of cold storage facilities.
- Team Healife & Co: Meenal Mech and Nakkesha Sathya Mathiazhagan from Global Indian International School, developed Campex, a modified sanitary pad that aims to solve the core menstrual problems of Cambodian women. In Cambodia, many women face a lack of resources, hygiene and overall awareness about feminine sanitary care. Women living in poverty, unfortunately, change their pads in unhygienic ways because there are no public restrooms or adequate hygiene facilities. Campex is designed to be safe and comfortable whilst remaining affordable and accessible. It is also 100% biodegradable, which incorporates a dissolving soap strip and anti-bacterial elements.
One of the judges for the FedEx Express / JA ITC Malaysian Finals, Maran Virumandi, Founder of Doctor on Call said, “This is the first for me to be in a judging panel for the FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge and I am delighted to be presented with the opportunity to contribute to the efforts by both FedEx Express Malaysia and Junior Achievement in nurturing the young leaders of tomorrow. I am in awe of the solid ideation as well as sheer determination demonstrated by the winning teams – and they nailed it through their clear and structured presentation. I am pleased to have been part of this process and I wish them all the best for their next competition leg at the Asia Pacific level!”
Chairman of Junior Achievement Malaysia, Stuart Dean said, “JA Malaysia is once again privileged to collaborate with FedEx Express Malaysia in imparting invaluable skills and expertise to the younger generation. And, as with every year, I am astounded to see these students go above and beyond and surpass my expectations. I am confident that the finalists will take into account the lessons taught during the workshops as well as the judges’ feedback when competing at the Regional Finals”.
At the Regional Finals, the three winning Malaysian teams will be paired up randomly with students from other countries such as – Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. For more updates, insights and photographs of the 2022 FedEx Express / JA ITC, log on to www.facebook.com/AsiaPacificITC.
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About FedEx Express / JA International Trade Challenge
Sponsored by FedEx Express for 14 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 7,053 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 / JA 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 must 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 one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, 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.
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 $84 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 570,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit about.fedex.com.