JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CYPRUS HOSTS FIRST TRADE FAIR ATTENDED BY OVER 200 YOUTH

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On Saturday, 28 March 2015, the first Company Programme Trade Fair organized by Junior Achievement Cyprus, took place at The Mall of Cyprus, Nicosia. The event was attended by numerous Mall visitors and people interested in discovering the entrepreneurial spirit of Cypriot youth.

During the Fair, 210 talented student entrepreneurs, aged 15-18, from all over Cyprus, representing 31 student companies, successfully showcased and sold to the public their innovative products and services. While exhibiting, experienced jury members walked through the mini–company stands and evaluated the business ideas of the students. This assessment will play a key role in deciding the 10 finalists that will move on to pitch their ideas in public at the Company of the Year Competition Finale and Award Ceremony that will be held on Thursday, 30 April 2015.

The student companies have been created as part of the annual Company Programme. This is the second year that Junior Achievement Cyprus cooperates with both public and private high schools, as well as vocational schools from all over Cyprus, through the Company Programme. Through this Programme, students are offered the opportunity to learn through experience how to take a business idea from concept to actuality, by forming and running their own real companies for a whole academic year. The programme aims at equipping students with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to build their own successful enterprises in the future. Moreover, it increases their likelihood of being employed and, in general, succeed in whatever they decide to do.

The event was kindly hosted by The Mall of Cyprus, Nicosia.PHOTO II_RESIZED

The Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr. George Lakkotrypis, visited the trade fair, where he spent time talking to the student entrepreneurs about their business ideas, providing them with advice and purchasing their products. The Minister stressed that through this pioneering trade fair, students proved their strong ability to combine creativity and entrepreneurship. “Broad entrepreneurial ideas developed by students in combination with their strong teamwork skills, render us proud and optimistic about the future”.PHOTO III_RESIZED

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mrs Aigli Pantelaki, visited JA Cyprus’ first Trade Fair and, in her opening address, highlighted the critical significance of educational programmes promoting entrepreneurship, creativity and team work, both for young people’s professional success as well as the island’s financial recovery.      PHOTO IV_RESIZED

 

JA Cyprus is supported by:  

  • Strategic Partner:             Piraeus Bank Cyprus
  • Partners:                            Cyta & MetLife Alico
  • Academic Partner:           University of Nicosia
  • Supporter:                         MS Jacovides
  • Institutional Partner:      Ministry of Education and Culture