Bangkok--Oct 7--HSBC
HSBC in Thailand is encouraging Thai youth to become new-generation businesspeople through its “HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards 2005-06”, with awards and prizes worth over one million baht.
Designed to help today’s students to become tomorrow’s business leaders, the HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards is now open for entries. HSBC in Thailand is inviting Thai undergraduate students who are studying full-time to enter the business plan writing competition to win awards worth over one million baht. Participants will also have an opportunity to acquire practical business knowledge from business planning and presentation skills workshops in Thailand and from study trips to Hong Kong and the United States. The Gold Award winners from Thailand will also compete at Asia regional level in Hong Kong in June 2006.
Mr. Marcus Hurry, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC in Thailand, said: “Thailand’s future depends on the younger generation. As the first commercial bank in Thailand, and one of the world’s leading financial institutions, with a long-standing relationship with the Thai community for more than 117 years, HSBC firmly believes in fostering an entrepreneurial spirit, an essential quality for tomorrow’s business leaders. The HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards is also a powerful example of how HSBC’s philosophy of Corporate Social Responsibility extends to support the people and the community where we operate.”
Last year’s competition proved a great success. HSBC received over 100 business ideas from 267 students. Out of these, over 50 students were selected to participate in a business plan-writing workshop. Eight students passed the Thailand Final and received intensive training on presentation skills, traveled to Hong Kong for a study tour and took part in the regional competition for Best of the Best Award. The Thailand Gold Award winners traveled to Seattle on a study tour at the University of Washington, and visited leading US companies such as Boeing and Microsoft.
“During the course of last year's competition, we found there are a large number of talented young Thai people who strive to develop and prepare themselves for future careers. These young people need support to demonstrate their creativity and potential. HSBC is proud of our initiative to provide them the chance to develop and practice their ideas and skills again this year”, said Mr. Hurry.
As a member of the judging panel, Dr. Thanet Noraphumphiphat, Director of the Institute for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, reiterated that he is delighted to be a part of this project that provides Thai youth with a golden opportunity to show their capacity and creativity in developing business plans at both national and regional levels. Support from government and private sectors will help the youth become a strong resource for the country as well as increase national competitiveness in the business world in the future.
“The HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards will provide an invaluable experience for Thai students. Apart from obtaining practical business knowledge, they will be able to develop their intellectual and personal strengths.”, said Ms. Jhitraporn Techacharn, Director General for the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion.
The HSBC Young Entrepreneur Award 2005—06 is a business plan writing competition open to undergraduate students nationwide, regardless of their fields of study. The eligible applicants are required to present a business plan of goods or services with high potential for commercial success in domestic or international market. The competition will be divided into five rounds: an outline submission, a full plan submission, an interview by a panel of distinguished experts, Thailand Final and Regional Grand Final.
All interested students may apply in a team of 2-3 persons and submit their business idea ONLINE via www.asiayea.com before 30 November 2005. Each participating team must submit an outline of an innovative business idea that could lead to the creation of a successful business. The outline must be in English and contain a maximum of 1,000 words. For more details, please e-mail: [email protected] or call 02 614 - 4606 or 02 614 — 4687.
The HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards 2005-06
List of Awards and Prizes
Gold Award:
- an HSBC self-development fund of Thb100,000 for the team
- an HSBC trophy for each team member
- a trip to participate in the regional competition in Hong Kong
- a one- week study tour in the USA
Silver Award:
- an HSBC self-development fund of Thb80,000 for the team
- an HSBC trophy for each team member
- a trip to observe the regional competition in Hong Kong
Bronze Award:
- an HSBC self-development fund of Thb60,000 for the team
- an HSBC trophy for each team member
- a trip to observe the regional competition in Hong Kong
Certificate of Excellence:
- Each of the teams who are short-listed for the third round will receive Thb30,000 and certificates
Certificate of Merit:
- Each of the teams who are selected for the second round will receive Thb10,000 and certificates
Media enquiries to Seenual Reugsirinukul or Savittree Muadmuang on 0-2614-4605-6, 0-2614-4687. End.