FedEx recognizes student winners at 2025 International Trade Challenge finals

The first-place award went to Team Spicy Noodles—Jamie Smith from Republic of Korea and Kathy Nguyen from Vietnam—for their concept turning discarded textiles into custom embroidered artwork.

Runner-up teams included Team Innovement (Janelle Anika S. Tan from the Philippines and Royden So from Hong Kong SAR), who created a smart wall panel using textile waste; and Team ReTex (Panasarn Traithavil from Thailand and Lan Anh Phan from Vietnam), who proposed residential solar panels made partly from recycled materials.

“Competing alongside such talented peers from across Asia Pacific has been transformative. This challenge pushed us beyond textbook theories into real-world problem-solving, where we learned that successful international trade requires not just business acumen but cultural sensitivity and genuine collaboration. This experience has given us the confidence to pursue entrepreneurial ventures that can make a meaningful impact across borders,” said Jamie Smith from Republic of Korea and Kathy Nguyen from Vietnam.

Maribeth Espinosa, Managing Director at FedEx Philippines commented: “The achievements of these young leaders from across Asia Pacific show that the future of global trade and innovation is in capable hands. This year we are especially proud to see a Filipino student excel alongside her peers from the region, proving that our youth have the ingenuity and determination to compete on a global stage... Each year we’re always excited to witness students from different cultures converge and work together—a good indication of the future we can build where young leaders will not only succeed in their own endeavors but also strengthen connections between nations and drive inclusive growth across the region.”

For the first time this year, winners will visit FedEx operations facilities in their local markets for hands-on learning about logistics and supply chain management.

The FedEx / JA International Trade Challenge program is jointly organized by FedEx and JA Asia Pacific. Over its 19-year history it has introduced more than 50,000 students across Asia Pacific to concepts in business and international trade through both classroom instruction and practical teamwork activities. Additionally,FedEx supports small businesses through initiatives like its Small Business Grant Contest, which aims to assist SMEs throughout Asia Pacific.

To learn more about available services or programs,visit the official FedEx Philippines website.