Andrew Tilke, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, attends the launch of Young Entrepreneur Challenge-2012, a competition for undergraduate students, at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday. Talukdar Noman Anwar, head of marketing, communications and sustainability, was also present.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd yesterday launched the Young Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) in Bangladesh to promote business ideas and creativity of undergraduate students.

In its sixth edition in Bangladesh and 12th in the Asia Pacific region, the YEC is an annual, regional competition designed to encourage young people to demonstrate their creativity, acquire a wide range of practical business knowledge and skills, and unleash the power of their potential.

"It aims to promote the enterprising spirit among undergraduate students and their creativity," said HSBC Bangladesh CEO Andrew Tilke while launching the programme at a press conference in Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

"It is an ideal platform to demonstrate their challenge," he said.

Since 2006, when the programme was first launched in Bangladesh, the country's team has either grabbed the top position at grand finale in Hong Kong or become second, said Talukdar Noman Anwar, head of marketing, communications and sustainability.

He said participating teams are required to submit a very brief business idea within 1,000 words.

Having passed through two levels of screening and workshops on entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, five best teams will present their plans to a panel of experts at the Bangladesh finale.

The gold, silver and bronze winners of Bangladesh finale will receive trophies and cash prizes of Tk 75,000, Tk 45,000 and Tk 35,000 respectively.

The champion team from Bangladesh will compete at the regional grand finale in June this year. Champion teams from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Shanghai, Philippines, Brunei and Bangladesh will compete for the prestigious honour.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/ 8th Feb 2012