Contest for budding businessmen

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malta, which forms part of an independent, worldwide federation of young entrepreneurs working to develop business leadership, yesterday launched the fourth edition of the Best Business Plan Competition.

JCI Malta president Karl Farrugia Wismayer said the organisation was giving the opportunity to young, aspiring entrepreneurs to come up with an innovative commercial idea.

All business plans submitted will be judged by a panel composed of some of Malta's business leaders, Mr Farrugia Wismayer said. The best plan will be awarded Lm1,000 in cash and the runner-up Lm250.

The winner will automatically take part in JCI's International Best Business Plan Competition with the possibility of winning a $5,000 cash award, in order to help set up the business, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to the 60th JCI World Congress to be held in Vienna.

Mr Farrugia Wismayer said anyone aged from 18 to 40 may take part.

The business plan competition was launched at HSBC Malta's head office in Valletta in the presence of Communications and Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea, Joseph Schembri from KPMG, which is sponsoring the competition along with HSBC, and James Dunbar Cousin, head of commercial banking at HSBC.

Those who wish to take part can download a free support pack from the JCI Malta website at www.jci.org.mt/BBP, or contact competition project team members Annabelle Scicluna and Jennifer Attard Pullicino by sending an e-mail to bbp@jci.org.mt or calling 9942 2591/9940 3149/9927 8830.