Liahona High School leads the first phase of the inaugural Youth in Business - Dream Big Challenge 2010 and the recipient of a cash prize of $3000 pa'anga in seed capital to set up their business.

The program initiated by the Tonga Chamber of Commerce gave students an opportunity to learn how to run a business. Four finalists out of nine schools were announced at an award ceremony at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre on May 31.

Liahona High School won the top prize with their business proposal for "PolyTexture", a company that will produce trendy, unique handbags. In second place was 'Apifo'ou College who won $2,000 pa'anga for Hepi Jojo Sparkling Looks, designing original screen printed T-shirts. Tupou High School was third receiving $1,500 for Organic Greens that grows and sells organic seedlings and plants. In fourth place was Ocean of Light, which received $1,000 for Project Faith to manufacture coconut desserts.

Tonga Chamber and Commerce President and Chair of the Youth in Business judging panel, Paula Taumoepeau, said the teams presented original and interesting projects and the voting was close "a proof that the future of Tonga's private sector is in good hands."

The competition began last month and the procedure was for teams to form a company then present a business plan on how to produce and market a product. Each team then had to make an oral submissions to a panel of judges.

The awarding of the seed capital to the four finalists this week marked the start of the next phase that is the real development of the company, and manufacturing and sales of products to the public.

The program held over three years is organised by Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Secondary Schools Principals Association and the Ministry of Education. It is sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission, TCCI and local businesses.

Dr. Cecile Quesada-Moaeteau, Program Officer for the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industries said later on June 9 that the seed capital was only the start of the competition.

"In September, the real final of the Youth in Business Challenge 2010 will take place. From now on, and until September, the four teams are going to use their seed capital to develop their businesses, manufacture and sell their products. They will report to the same panel of judges regularly. Then at the end of September, the judges will decide, according to different criteria, which business was the best. They will announce the winner of the Challenge during a big prize-giving ceremony, and the winning team will be awarded a fully paid 5-days trip to New Zealand.

"The Seed Capital Ceremony that has just taken place was in fact only the first step of the competition, that allowed us to reduce the number of competitors to 4

"Next year, all the schools that will register to participate will be awarded a seed capital. Next year will open up the competition to all the secondary and tertiary schools in Tongatapu, and in 2012 the competition will include the outer islands. Then it will run nationally every year and become a permanent educational program in Tonga," she said.