24 companies set up by 125 students from 22 secondary schools, public and non-public in Albania, competed with their ideas and products in the "JAA 2022 Student Companies National Fair and Competition" held by Junior Achiemevent of Albania on June 28, 2022 .
The competing companies were part of 59 Student Companies that applied to JAA with their business ideas earlier this year and that developed and implemented them concretely supported by their teachers, mentors from the business community, as well as through a cycle trainings developed by JAA in their support.
The Fair and the National Competition of Student Companies is part of the ongoing commitment of Junior Achievement and the "Albanian-American Fund for Development" to support the financial education of young people in Albania in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, both through the subject modules of JA, as well as extracurricular activities, such as the "Student Company" program. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 85 schools of higher secondary education in Albania and about 5,000 students received knowledge through the elective modules "Student Society" and "Director for a Day".
Deputy Minister of Education Mrs. Nina Guga, in her speech at the opening ceremony of this Fair, emphasized: - "I believe that not only the 24 companies today, but in the future we will have excellent entrepreneurs and students who will face the challenges of working time. Your success today translates into the success you will have tomorrow."
"There are never losers in a competition. Take this as a very good experience, thanks to AADF and Junior Achievement, to follow it up. I am very happy that every time we work together with the Ministry of Education and AADF, we bring very good, innovative projects that will serve future generations", - emphasized the deputy. Mayor of the Municipality.
The National Fair, as well as the 3 Regional Fairs held in April-May this year, gave 277 students, part of 59 Companies from 42 secondary schools in Albania, the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge of entrepreneurship that they have acquired and practiced, as well as it is evaluating the best achievements among them.
An established National Jury, consisting of 6 members of the business community, interviewed on June 7, 2022 and evaluated the competing Companies based on the criteria of innovation and entrepreneurship, product and customer focus, financial performance, company planning and administration, as well as ability to demonstrate learning achievement.
The jury assessed:
With the "Company Ready for Work" award - Epoxy Art
Award: "Best Marketing and Sales Plan" - Posterum
Award: "Social Enterprise" - Fauve
Award: "Most Innovative Business Idea" - Plantech
Award: "Most Customer Oriented Company" - Puff Pets
Award: "Best Entrepreneurial Company JAA 2022" - Nexus
"Tirana Bank, as part of the Balfin Group, is proud to have participated as a sponsor in this event and expresses its gratitude for your participation with innovative ideas", Mr. Idlir Mezini during the presentation of the "Nexus" Company award.
The company "Nexus", winner of the national award, will represent Albania at the European Festival of Entrepreneurship "#Gen-E2022" that will take place on July 12-15, 2022 in Tallinn, Estonia. This festival takes place with the participation of Winning Companies from 40 European countries and crowns the best company of the year at the European level.