For the third consecutive year The Point shopping mall in Sliema hosted the annual Junior Achievement–Young Enterprise Malta (JA–YE Malta) HSBC Company Programme National Trade Fair.

Thirteen JA–YE (Malta) companies formed by students attending eight different upper secondary institutions in Malta displayed their products at the fair, which was open to the public.

Four teams displayed ‘physical’ products which included a student magazine, a recyclable lunch box, adhesive doodle boards, and large coffee cups.

Two teams have both a product and an app, which complement each other: a water bottle with a compartment for fruit together with an app that tracks individual water consumption; and an app providing Maltese natural remedies to daily ailments, accompanied by a starter pack of these natural medicines for common illnesses.

Five other teams have focused on developing apps offering information on retail outlets in Sliema, personal budget management assistance, taxi price comparisons, restaurant vouchers through social media and, an educational app focused on the environment.

The remaining two teams have come up with, respectively, a plastic shredding machine and a game that asks questions about the environment in order to advance.

The Fair was well attended with many patrons commenting positively on the students’ energy, passion and product ingenuity. The students also had the opportunity to discuss their product and participation in the JA–YE Company Programme with the Minister for Education and Employment, Mr Evarist Bartolo, who took the time to visit each stand paying attention to everything that the participants had to say.

Minister Bartolo commented that the JA–YE experience is an important element of a student’s education path as it offers hands–on experience of what it means to run a business and engage with potential clients.