Six outstanding students from the region claimed the top spots, standing out among a competitive pool of 48 finalists.
MANILA, Philippines — Global express transportation leader Federal Express Corporation, alongside Junior Achievement (JA), has crowned the winners of the 2026 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific finals, which concluded live in Singapore. The event marks a major anniversary for the initiative, celebrating two decades of equipping youth across the region with vital skill sets in global commerce, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.
Over 4,000 ambitious students entered this year’s competition, representing eight Asia-Pacific markets, including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong SAR.
Bringing together 48 elite students in Singapore, the regional finals challenged participants to develop a comprehensive market entry strategy for Cambodia. The goal was to design an innovative, eco-friendly product that transforms discarded packaging into a practical solution providing social, environmental, or economic benefits. Reflecting heightened consumer awareness of environmental impacts and corporate accountability, the highly relevant challenge paired students from different territories to promote cross-cultural collaboration. Teams then defended their business models before a judging panel of top Singaporean entrepreneurs and small business leaders.
Marking the 20-year milestone, Salil Chari, president of Asia Pacific at FedEx, emphasized how the program has successfully transitioned from a standard trade workshop into a premier platform for fostering real-world business acumen and regional collaboration. “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. What began as an initiative to introduce students to international trade has evolved into a platform that develops entrepreneurial thinking, cross-cultural collaboration, and real-world problem-solving skills. The talent, creativity, and global mindset demonstrated by this year’s finalists give us great confidence in the next generation of business leaders,” Chari stated.
Claiming the top spot was Team Ascent, featuring Farra Santoso of Indonesia and Harry Jang of South Korea. The duo won over the judges with a lightweight thermal shield manufactured from repurposed industrial packaging. Engineered specifically for Cambodia’s intense climate, the electricity-free innovation restricts heat entry into buildings—simultaneously slashing factory energy costs, safeguarding workers from extreme temperatures, and minimizing industrial waste.
Securing the runner-up positions were Team Baksei and Team Ventra. Team Baksei—featuring Masato Hirozane of Japan and Sara Nileshkumar Jasani of Malaysia—engineered a method to convert discarded soft-plastic packaging into rugged, flood-resistant permeable tiles. Meanwhile, Team Ventra—composed of Minette Cabaluna from the Philippines and Rayden Cleverson Suhardi of Indonesia—pitched a modular cooling system crafted from recycled plastic waste, designed to lower indoor temperatures without using electricity.
In a joint statement, champions Farra Santoso and Harry Jang expressed their gratitude for the program’s mentorship and celebrated the unique perspective gained from cross-market collaboration. “Winning the 2026 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge has been an unforgettable experience. Working with teammates from different markets challenged us to think beyond our own perspectives and develop solutions that could succeed on a global scale. Throughout the competition, we learned how international trade, sustainability, technology, and cultural understanding come together to solve real business challenges. Being part of the program’s 20th anniversary year makes this achievement even more meaningful, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and connect with talented students from across the region,” noted the Team Ascent duo.
Vivek Kumar, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific, added: “These winners, and indeed all the 48 finalists, represent the very best of the impact that the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge was designed to achieve: young people with bold ideas, the courage to collaborate across cultures, and the ability to turn classroom learning into real-world business solutions. As the program marks its 20th year, their achievement is a powerful reminder that the future of trade and entrepreneurship in Asia Pacific is already taking shape in the hands of our youth.”
The landmark finals introduced new elements to celebrate the program’s two-decade legacy. This included the rollout of a regional survey gathering insights from over 4,000 youth in 10 markets on topics like AI and workplace readiness. Furthermore, former participants from across the program’s 20-year history returned as mentors, speakers, and judges, reinforcing the initiative’s lasting community impact.
Grounded in the belief that guidance is vital for youth empowerment, Federal Express Corporation is pairing its 2026 regional prizes with an exclusive educational itinerary. The Asia-Pacific winners will gain firsthand exposure to global commerce by touring local FedEx operating facilities and collaborating directly with corporate team members. This immersive training serves to ground their newly developed entrepreneurial skills in real-world supply chain economics, logistics management, and international trade practices.
Jointly managed by FedEx and JA Asia Pacific, the challenge has reached more than 54,000 regional students over its 20-year history. By blending classroom instruction with active business challenges, the program delivers high-utility training in economics, teamwork, and international trade strategy. Alongside this student-centric focus, FedEx simultaneously champions adult innovators through its separate Small Business Grant Contest (SBGC), designed to accelerate the growth of local SMEs.
The panel of entrepreneurs and corporate executives commended the flawless execution of the event and expressed deep admiration for the high caliber of work delivered by the student finalists.
“Wonderful experience, a peek into our future leaders and I am impressed.” – Dr Neo Kok Beng, Founder and CEO, NEO Aeronautics
“Judging this competition was a privilege. These young people brought sharp ideas, honest effort, and a real willingness to learn exactly what the next generation of business leader’s needs.” – Rina Neoh, Co – Founder and Managing Partner, Ficus Capital
“I was motivated to take on the role of judge because we need to create safe spaces for young people to step out of their comfort zone, test ideas, and build confidence. Competitions like this give students a chance to think creatively, solve problems, think on their feet, and work with partners with different backgrounds, which are skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
As a judge, I wanted to offer useful feedback and encouragement. I also gained a lot from the experience seeing the capabilities of the next generation to have a tremendous impact on society. The students were thoughtful, organized and creative in the presentations. They leveraged all the tools available to them, created work that demonstrates their independent thinking and communicated their ideas clearly and with impact. They should be applauded for their courage, hard work and personal development. Be curious.” – Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei, CEO, The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
“These students aren’t just learning about business—they’re demonstrating the problem-solving mindset and resilience that define true entrepreneurs. That’s what will drive real change in the world.” – Pranjal Taneja, Founder and CEO, Gumtoo
“Always innovate in technology, business model and workflows.” – Thaddeus Koh, Co-Founder, E27 (Optimatic)
“I was motivated to join the judging panel because I believe young people need opportunities to apply what they learn to real-world challenges. Throughout the competition, I was impressed by the students’ creativity, customer insight, commercial thinking and confidence in presenting their ideas. The strongest teams combined a clear understanding of the problem with practical solutions, compelling storytelling and genuine collaboration.
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to stay curious, listen closely to the people you hope to serve, and become comfortable learning through experimentation. Organizations such as FedEx and JA value people who can think critically, communicate clearly, work across cultures, use technology responsibly and remain resilient when their first idea does not work. The most optimistic moment for me was seeing how thoughtfully the students responded to questions and feedback. Their willingness to adapt, learn and improve showed that the next generation is ready to build businesses that create both economic value and positive social impact.” – Kriti Kapoor, Future of Work Strategist.
