FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, in collaboration with Junior Achievement (JA Vietnam), kicked off the International Trade Challenge (ITC) 2020 with a series of workshops to build business knowledge and skills among student participants.
The annual ITC program nurtures and supports the entrepreneurial spirit and skills of young talent through the development of practical, effective and creative business ideas.
This year, the workshops were held virtually for the first time due to COVID-19 safety measures. A top priority for the company is safety of FedEx volunteers and the students, and we are pleased to say that six workshops have been facilitated successfully involving 412 students.
During the workshops, the participants — young future entrepreneurs representing their schools — gain first-hand knowledge of international trade, business models, finance and risk management and build interpersonal skills such as leadership, teamwork and presentation. These workshops prepare students to create and present their business proposals for the competition.
12 teams from the local ITC workshop will be shortlisted and present their market entry strategies in the Vietnam local finals. Three teams of student entrepreneurs will be chosen to compete against students from across 10 Asia Pacific markets in the FedEx/JA ITC regional finals in 2021.
In Vietnam, the FedEx/JA ITC Program has been held for nine consecutive years, attracting more than 2,000 students from 300 schools. In 2019, the Vietnam team won second prize at the regional FedEx/JA ITC competition in Malaysia presenting a medical device that helps reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The finals for the local competition are scheduled in January 2021.