Federal Express Corporation and Junior Achievement (JA) have announced the winners of the 2026 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific finals, held in Singapore as the program celebrates its 20th anniversary of developing entrepreneurial and international trade skills among young people across the region.
The competition attracted more than 4,000 students from eight markets, including the Philippines, with 48 finalists gathering in Singapore for the regional finals. Participants were challenged to develop a market-entry strategy for an innovative and sustainable product made from used packaging materials, with Cambodia as the target market.
The first-place award went to Team Ascent, composed of Farra Santoso of Indonesia and Harry Jang of the Republic of Korea. Their concept—a lightweight thermal shield made from recycled industrial packaging—was designed to reduce heat entering buildings without electricity, helping lower energy costs and protect workers in Cambodia’s hot climate.
Two teams were named runners-up. Team Baksei, composed of Masato Hirozane of Japan and Sara Nileshkumar of Malaysia, developed flood-resilient permeable tiles made from discarded soft-plastic packaging.
Meanwhile, Team Ventra, featuring Minette Cabaluna of the Philippines and Rayden Cleverson Suhardi of Indonesia, proposed a modular cooling system made from recycled plastic waste that can help lower indoor temperatures without electricity.
The competition emphasized cross-cultural collaboration, with students from different markets paired together to develop and pitch their solutions to a panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
“As we celebrate the 20th year of the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge, we are proud of the lasting impact the program has had on thousands of young people across Asia Pacific,” said Salil Chari, president of Asia Pacific, FedEx.
The 2026 finals also introduced new elements, including findings from a regional student survey covering more than 4,000 responses and the participation of program alumni as mentors, judges, and speakers.
Now in its 20th year, the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge has reached more than 54,000 students across Asia Pacific, providing hands-on opportunities to develop skills in entrepreneurship, global trade, teamwork, economics, and problem-solving.
The 2026 winners will also receive opportunities to visit FedEx operational facilities in their respective markets and engage directly with FedEx team members to gain insights into logistics, supply chain management, and international trade.
