Six students to represent NZ at FedEx Trade Challange

Six Students Selected to Represent New Zealand at 2014 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific Final in Hong Kong

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 16, 2014 – After an intense competition, FedEx and
the Young Enterprise Trust are pleased to announce the final team of very impressive young people from New Zealand who will be competing against the eight other Asia Pacific countries and their 48 representatives in Hong Kong in August.

The New Zealand representatives are:

1. Amanda Ngo - Team Telecom - Kings College Auckland

2. Ben Seelen - Team NZICA - Nayland College Nelson

3. Tom Anderson - Team Telecom - Roncalli College Timaru

4. Dylan Rogan - Team BECA - Rangitoto College Auckland

5. Izzy Stangi - Team NZTE - Long Bay College Auckland

6. Shannon Metcalfe - Team BECA - Avondale College Auckland

Eighty students, 16-18 years old, took part in the FedEx Express/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (ITC) and were tasked to develop a market entry strategy plan to export a fish based product to Japan.

Business proposals ranged from an Omega contact lens solution to assist the 14 million people in Japan who wear contacts, a chocolate fish that contains collagen and your daily intake of Omega’s with multiple health benefits, to a pilchard-based dried dog food product that would appeal to the dog loving nation of Japan, and a ‘Samurai Sauce’, a high dose calcium supplement made from fish bone to help the aging population who have high levels of osteoporosis.

The students were judged on their market-entry strategies detailing marketing,
promotion, pricing, inventory and product distribution plans.

Lee Davies, FedEx country manager, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, and one of the judges, said the ITC Challenge was a showcase for our country’s budding entrepreneurs to present innovative and creative ideas and the quality of talent this year was again extremely impressive.

“Having only a few hours to come up with a marketing strategy is a big ask and we were very impressed by the students’ innovative approach and their understanding of business concepts,” Davies said. “The six winning students showed a high level of understanding of entrepreneurship skills. We have high hopes for them representing New Zealand at the Asia Pacific final in late August.”

Sponsored by FedEx Express and organized by Young Enterprise Trust, the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge is designed to help students in Asia Pacific markets learn about international trade and provide them with an opportunity to set up a mock business and develop a plan to export a product to an overseas market.

“The FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge aims to support the tradition of
entrepreneurial spirit in this country. Through the event, we are providing a platform for our younger and aspiring business people to learn about international trade and prepare them to compete on a global level,” said Kim Garner, managing director, FedEx Australasia.

“FedEx strongly believes that global trade drives economic growth and job development,” Garner continued. “We also believe that educating our young people on how the global trading environment impacts lives, communities and countries is paramount. These are the reasons we support the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge as it allows students to gain first-hand experience of global trade and the opportunity to develop their own skills in the areas of interpersonal relationships, teamwork, risk taking and self-confidence.”

Before heading to Hong Kong, the six representatives will participate in a two-day training workshop in late July at the FedEx facility in Auckland to prepare them for the Asia-Pacific regional final in August.

The International Trade Challenge is in its eighth year in Asia Pacific and this is the sixth year FedEx is sponsoring the programme in New Zealand. The FedEx-sponsored Challenge has provided almost 10,000 students in nine Asia Pacific countries, including 400 students from schools throughout New Zealand, with invaluable insight into global trade.

Key dates Enterprise in Action and FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge:

Stage 1, 13-16 June 80 NZ students compete in regional heat at Massey University

Stage 2, 26-27 July Team NZ attends a two-day workshop in Auckland to hone their

Stage 3, 17-21 August Team of six represent NZ in Hong Kong at the FedEx Asia Pacific Albany, Auckland skills for the FedEx ITC Asia Pacific Finalfinals
ends

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