FedEx moves forward to global competitiveness

MANILA, Philippines - Successful young entrepreneurs with global enterprises are sprouting like mushrooms across the globe—where is the Philippines in this picture?

Whether results of the 2009 World Competitiveness Ranking are to be contested or not, the Philippines could continue to lag behind its neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region if economic needs were not to be addressed soon.

Ranking 43rd out of the 57 economies included in the World Competitiveness Yearbook, the Philippines is now aptly labeled “the least competitive” country in the Pacific region.

A source of dismay? Yes. However, a little dose of optimism could just help turn things around. After all, this country remains hopeful about an outstanding economic performance in the future. And who else could help drive this nation to global competence?

FedEx Express (FedEx), the world’s largest express transportation company, together with non-government organization Junior Achievement Philippines, Inc. (JAPI), believes that educating and inspiring the country’s young minds would be a significant step towards global competitiveness.

With clear understanding of business efficiency as a critical indicator of a country’s competitiveness, FedEx and JAPI sought to place the role of business in economic growth on limelight through the recently concluded FedEx Express/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge program—comprised of the International Trade Seminar and the International Trade Challenge Competition.

Sam David, FedEx Philippines country manager, during the International Trade Seminar, shared his confidence in the Filipino young entrepreneurs. “Through the FedEx/JA ITC program, we hope to provide avenues for young people in the Philippines to achieve their fullest potential and prepare them to become leaders in our global society,” he said.

Certainly, the likes of a Mark Zuckerberg, the young founder and CEO of Facebook, cannot be produced overnight, but the FedEx/JA ITC program believes that the Filipino youth would be more than glad to fulfill their role as the “nation’s hope” or pag-asa ng bayan, if they would be provided with learning opportunities that can boost their spirits.

The first-ever FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge competition held last Sept. 4 could have helped bring life to these “entrepreneurial spirits”. Here, six teams from JAPI-member schools competed—armed with the business knowledge and skills that they have acquired from the International Trade Seminar held last May 12, 2009. Through the seminar, students were equipped with the knowledge and skills that have helped them in developing an effective business plan for the competition.

The business plans created by the students for the ITC competition were designed primarily for export—giving the young entrepreneurs the challenge of analyzing foreign market trends and conditions. With the plans presented and defended to a panel of judges by the students themselves, the ITC competition was certainly one challenging yet exciting feat for the aspiring entrepreneurs.

From unique homemade bags to beverages and accessories, the participating students wowed the judges with their innovative and world-class business ideas during the competition.