The Nakhon Nayok pre-cadet school beat out teams from Ubon Ratchathani University (first runner-up) and Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University (second runner up).

The final round of the young entrepreneur challenge was held this past Friday at Chulalongkorn University.

The budding businessmen from Chulachomklao will now represent Thailand at the 2006 SIFE World Cup in Paris between September 11 and 13.

"The CRMA team won because its projects - 'Basket of Dreams' and 'Stronger Fences' - could present us with concrete results and show sustainability in the long run," SIFE Thailand chairman and one of the judges, Dr Chai-Anan Samudavanija, said.

"Basket of Dreams" assists Theppathan villagers in Nakhon Nayok promote their handmade wooden baskets and introduced their products to an upscale shopping mall.

"Stronger Fences" educates conscripts in financial management and prepares them for life after the Army.

Team secretary, Cadet Bodin Aroonsawat, said the team was proud, but surprised at the outcome. "We entered this competition just to practise and prepare ourselves in community development before graduating so we could work in the real world."

So, it's off to France for the SIFE World Cup, a competition that requires students to mastermind a business strategy to improve the lives of local people in a sustainable way.

Team adviser Lt-Colonel Wilasinee Intaranadach said there would have to be improvement in the cadets' English proficiency if they were going to take on 40 international teams.

"We are still struggling to answer questions in English. They will have to spend more time practising English conversation," the adviser said.

The competition is a stage for students to develop projects that help communities. They learn about business management, financial responsibility, market economics and ethics.