Inspiring The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs: Thai Student Among Winners of the 2025 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge

Thailand, September 02, 2025 - Federal Express Corporation, one of the world's largest express transportation companies, together with Junior Achievement (JA), announced the winners of the 2025 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific finals, held live in Singapore.

This year's competition attracted over 4,700 students from 9 markets, including Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam.

From Thailand, Panasarn Traithavil proudly represented the country as part of Team ReTex, alongside teammate Lan Anh Phan from Vietnam. Their innovative idea-a new line of residential solar panels made from discarded textiles-earned them a runner-up spot among 54 finalists from across the region.

"At FedEx, we believe in empowering the next generation of Thai innovators to dream big and compete on a global stage. Panasarn's achievement at the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge reflects the creativity, determination, and talent we see in young people across Thailand. By nurturing these skills and exposing students to real-world challenges, we are helping them build the confidence and mindset needed to drive sustainable growth and strengthen Thailand's role in the global economy," said Sasathorn Phaspinyo, Managing Director, FedEx Thailand.

"Working with teammates from different cultures challenged us to think in new ways and strengthened our ability to collaborate across borders. Representing Thailand on this stage and being recognized as a runner-up showed us that ideas born here can create impact anywhere. This experience has inspired us to keep pushing for sustainable solutions that can make a difference not only in our own countries, but around the world," said Panasarn Traithavil and Lan Anh Phan of Team ReTex.

At the finals, students were tasked to create a market entry strategy for an eco-friendly product that upcycles discarded textiles into sustainable consumer goods, with France being the target market. With growing discourse among consumers on how products affect the environment, and the role corporations can play in shaping a sustainable future, the challenge was particularly relevant. Students were paired into teams of two from different markets to foster cross-cultural understanding. The student teams then pitched their idea to a panel of judges.

The judging panel brought together a diverse mix of respected entrepreneurs and business leaders from across industries, including Nivedita Venkateish, Founder of Aire; Belina Tan, Vice President of Corporate Communications at The Walt Disney Company; Kloe Ng, Co-founder of Out of The Box Edu; Ze Ming Chan, Head of Growth Innovation at Foodpanda; Rodney Geres, Senior Director at ICE; Camille R. Blair, Founder and CEO of Francis LLC; Daniel Yeung, Director of Tigris Water Company; and Kristoffer Jacek Soh Zhi Wei, Co-founder and CEO of Beep.

The first-place winners were Team Spicy Noodles, consisting of Jamie Smith from the Republic of Korea and Kathy Nguyen from Vietnam. They impressed the judges with their innovative concept of an eco-friendly upcycling brand that transforms discarded textiles into custom embroidered artwork. The other runner-up team was Team Innovement, composed of Janelle Anika S. Tan from the Philippines and Royden So from Hong Kong SAR, who developed a smart wall panel made from discarded textile waste.

"Every time we bring young people together from across the Asia Pacific region, we see not just talent, but vision, drive, and the courage to build a better future for all. The FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge inspires our young leaders to collaborate with their partners, connect across borders, and grow as changemakers. At Junior Achievement, we remain deeply committed to unlocking the latent potential in our children and youth. When shown the trust and given the opportunity, they don't simply step out into the world - they create a better one." said Maziar Sabet, president and CEO, JA Asia Pacific.

FedEx believes that investing in mentorship is essential to empowering the next generation of leaders to thrive. Hence, for the first time, the APAC winners will have an exclusive opportunity to deepen their understanding of global commerce. They will visit FedEx operations facilities in their local markets and connect directly with team members. This hands-on experience will offer invaluable insights into the complexities of global logistics and supply chain management, equipping them with practical knowledge to complement their entrepreneurial journeys.

"For nearly two decades, FedEx has proudly championed this program, empowering young entrepreneurs to think beyond borders and create solutions that address real-world challenges. In today's interconnected economy, innovation goes hand in hand with building smarter, more resilient supply chains, and the next generation of business leaders will be at the forefront of this transformation. By fostering their creativity, determination, and global mindset, we're investing in the future of commerce, one that is more connected, sustainable, and equipped to navigate the complexities of global trade," said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx.

The FedEx / JA International Trade Challenge program is jointly organized by FedEx and JA Asia Pacific, a member of JA Worldwide. In the last 19 years, over 50,000 students across Asia Pacific have been introduced to the world of business, economics, and international trade through this program, which incorporates classroom learning and practical teamwork exercises. In addition to supporting young entrepreneurs through JA ITC, FedEx has been organizing the Small Business Grant Contest(SBGC) to support small-and-medium-enterprises (SMEs)across Asia Pacific.