It was a treat to meet some of Hong Kong’s future business stars at the finals of our recent Business Case Competition. Congratulations to all the teams of each of the five tracks, and indeed to all of the participants, who clearly worked very hard on their projects and came up with a fantastic range of innovative ideas. 

Although this year’s event was held under social-distancing rules, meaning that only the finalists and judges could be present on the day, it did not dampen the teams’ enthusiasm or professionalism as they shared the solutions they had come up with for the business cases created by our five corporate sponsors.

In the competition, the students were charged with finding ways to tackle real-life challenges facing companies today, including the impact of climate change, fast-changing technology and disruptions to business continuity. After their presentations, all of the teams faced a grilling from the judges on the details of their projects. It certainly was a tough call to choose a winner amid such high standards across the board. 

Participating in the contest demands considerable commitment from the teams as they need to produce a substantial project proposal for their entry. The teams that reach the mentoring stage then cooperate with staff from the sponsoring company to refine their ideas. Many of the students reported that this was their favourite part of the process, giving them the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and to get a preview of corporate life. 

Like so much of what we do at the Chamber, the Business Case Competition could not take place without our members – in this case, the corporate sponsors. The five companies – Citibank, Great Eagle Group, NEC, NWS Holdings Limited and Sino Group – provided generous prizes for the winners and runners-up including cash rewards and internship opportunities. But more importantly, they took the time to create the business cases, review all the entries, mentor the finalists and judge the presentations. 

We are very grateful to the sponsors for helping the Chamber give students the opportunity to get an insight into the business world, which will give the participants a head start when they enter the world of work. 

There has been plenty to feel gloomy about in the past year, but the example of these young people is truly inspiring, and gives us a reason to be confident about Hong Kong’s prospects in the years and decades to come. I’m sure they all have a bright future ahead of them, and we will be hearing more from them in the business community of Hong Kong. 

This was only the second year of the Business Case Competition, but already it is a firm fixture on the Chamber’s calendar, and I am delighted that it has successfully attracted so many bright young minds to solve the challenges of the business world.

George Leung
[email protected]