Students win national trade challenge

The six finalists, all aged 17, who will represent NZ at the 2012 Asia Pacific International Trade Challenge in Hong Kong in August. Photo / Supplied

Six young entrepreneurs have taken out a national trade challenge and will now represent New Zealand at an event in Hong Kong later this year.

Eighty-one teenagers competed at the FedEx Express/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (ITC) at Massey University Albany in the weekend.

Tasked with exporting a wood-based product to Indonesia, the 16-19-year olds worked in teams to develop market entry plans to present to a judging panel.

Judges named six finalists, all aged 17, who will represent New Zealand at the 2012 Asia Pacific FedEx / Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge in Hong Kong from August 26 - 29.

The Kiwi representatives who will compete against eight other Asia Pacific countries and their 48 representatives in Hong Kong are Isabella Morris (Tauranga Girls' College), Karan Deva (Macleans College, Auckland), Jesse Medcalf (Westlake Boys, Auckland), Alice McFall (Aquinas College, Bay of Plenty), Lorenzo Peace (Wanganui Collegiate) and Joel MacManus (Garin College, Nelson).

Business proposals over the weekend included kitset cardboard houses to help with the shortfall of housing for the 8 million homeless people in Indonesia, and environmentally friendly pine-based drink bottles.

The teams were selected based on their understanding of economic and business concepts, market entry strategies and entrepreneurship skills, said Lee Davies, FedEx country manager, New Zealand and Pacific Islands.

"We are really pleased with the level of professionalism and creativity shown by the students this year.

"The six winners impressed us with their passion, ingenuity, creativity, teamwork and communication skills. They were able to effectively communicate the value proposition of their market entry strategies."

- HERALD ONLINE