FedEx, in partnership with Junior Achievement (JA), announced the winners of the 2024 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific finals, held in Singapore. The competition attracted over 4,500 students from 10 markets, with 60 finalists tasked with creating a market entry strategy for a circular economy product targeting Turkey.
Team CJ, featuring Cheryl Lim Xin Yi from Singapore and Julia Jasmine Binti Jufri from Malaysia, won first place for their innovative biofilm made from seaweed. Runners-up included Team Circuvate, who developed bioplastic plates, and Team ONE, consisting of Rysa D. Sumalinog from the Philippines and Clarisse Chee Qian Ying from Singapore, who proposed turning food waste into Turkish carpets.
Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, FedEx, commended the participants: “These young leaders are tackling real-world problems with creativity and insight, embodying the FedEx ethos of connecting people and possibilities.”
Maziar Sabet, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific, emphasized the competition’s role in nurturing future leaders: “The FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge empowers youth to innovate with purpose and become the architects of a better future.”
Now in its 18th year, the competition has introduced nearly 50,000 students across Asia Pacific to business, economics, and international trade, blending classroom learning with practical teamwork exercises. Judges praised the students’ efforts, noting the high quality of their presentations within the limited timeframe.