FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, and Junior Achievement (JA) Philippines Tuesday announced the winners of the first-ever FedEx Express/Junior Achievement Philippines International Trade Challenge 2009.

Elyssa Roxas and Danica Magat of Lyceum of the Philippines University impressed the panel of judges with a business proposal to market “pineapple wine” in United Kingdom. The winning team presented their business plan at the Philippine Trade and Training Center in Pasay City along with five other teams representing Lyceum University, Miriam College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Launched in 2007, the FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge aims to help young people in Asia Pacific understand how entrepreneurship can improve the quality of their lives and communities. The International Trade Challenge is specifically designed to help students 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. During the International Trade Challenge, students were asked to develop a specific product and create an original international marketing plan for a designated country.

Through this process, students worked as teams of two and gained first-hand experience of what roles world trade, product distribution, and sales play in a market environment. In addition to teamwork, participating students learned about the basics of risk evaluation in the business world and gain confidence in their analytical ability.

Samuel David, FedEx Philippines Country Manager and a judge at the ITC, said, “At FedEx, we believe that it is our responsibility to educate and inspire the next generation of business leaders. By sponsoring the Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge, we hope students will be able to develop the skills and attitudes to become more competitive in the global market place.”

Other members of the judging panel included George Macasero, President, Entrepreneurs Society of the Philippines, Jaime Siybauco, Secretary General, Philippine Marketing Association, and Enrique Umali, Vice President, Junior Achievement Philippines.

“The FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge aims to help students understand the roles they play, as young entrepreneurs, in the Philippines and the global economy. Together with FedEx, we are providing an opportunity for these future business leaders to learn how to create better lives for themselves and their societies,” said Junior Achievement Philippines Inc. Executive Director Krishna Alejandrino. FedEx extends its support through its employees volunteering as mentors, imparting practical knowledge on international trade to participating students, during the course of their business plan development.