Several students from 13 teams representing various schools yesterday began their two-day experience of putting enterprise education into practice at the 19th Young Enterprise National Trade Fair.

The fair, being held at City Gate in Valletta, gives the students the opportunity to market and sell their products and receive feedback on their ideas. To put it succinctly, the students are putting enterprise education into practice.

“People who say that Young Enterprise is a waste of time have no idea what they’re saying. Young Enterprise is all about putting enterprise education into practice and this is very important for both the students themselves as well as for the country,” the parliamentary secretary for small businesses and the self employed, Edwin Vassallo said at the opening of the YEM trade fair yesterday morning.

Mr Vassallo said the government, through his parliamentary secretariat, believed in the Young Enterprise concept of learning by doing and this was why it has been working hand-in-hand with the organisation to launch the Young Enterprise Primary Education project in primary schools.

The pilot project, he explained, will be launched in April in six schools, thereby introducing enterprise education at a primary level. Then as from next year, the project will be introduced in all primary schools in Malta and Gozo.

“It is important that Young Enterprise Malta, as an organisation, remains proactive in order to reach as many students as possible. It is important that parents, teachers and heads of school are fully aware about the advantages of their students participating in such projects because Malta needs these people who have experienced leadership, innovation and effective communication,” he said.

HSBC’s chief operating officer, Sally Robson, yesterday presented Young Enterprise Malta chief executive officer Karl Gouder with a cheque for Lm15,000 as this year’s sponsorship. Ms Robson said that over the past four years, HSBC had provided YEM with more than Lm55,000 in support as well as a number of staff members as judges and advisers to the teams.

“At HSBC we wholeheartedly believe in providing young people with the opportunity for developing business acumen. Since Young Enterprise delivers such a great educational programme, we are only too happy to give our strong support,” said Ms Robson.

Sixteen teams are participating in this year’s competition and they are all displaying and selling their products and services at the fair. Products and services include a euro coin album, mini dehumidifiers, candles, glass jewellery, children’s play mats, magnifying lenses for mobile phones, decorative lamps, battery testers and LED belt buckles, among others. The fair will be open from 9am today.