ECCB Launches its First Ever ECCU Innovation Contest for High School Students

ZIZ News…Sept 27 2012 — As part of the activities for Financial Information Month 2012, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) will host, for the first time, an ECCU Business Innovation Contest for High School students.

The theme for Financial Information Month (FIM) 2012, “Challenge Yourself: Innovate-Compete-Succeed!” recognises the importance of innovation in the current economic and financial environment and challenges the citizens of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to become competitive and endeavour to succeed. The ECCU Business Innovation Contest for High School Students, is part of this positive call to action.

The contest is open to students from the eight member countries of the ECCU. The key objective of the contest is to support the ECCB’s mandate to promote growth in the ECCU member countries by challenging the youth to be creative in developing business ideas which could contribute to the economic growth of their respective economies and by extension that of the entire ECCU.

The students are required to conceive an innovative business idea which they must submit along with a supporting business plan. A panel of judges will assess each submission on comprehensiveness of the business plan, innovativeness and viability.

The first place regional winner will receive a cash prize of $3,000; second place $2,000 and third place $1,000.

The school with the most entries will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and the top entry from each country which does not place among the regional winners will receive a Meritorious Award of $500

The deadline for submission of entries for the ECCU Innovation Contest for High School students is 30 November 2012. The winners will be announced at the prize giving ceremony in January 2013.