An agribusiness proposal has earned Maria Seecharan the $8,000 first prize in the Youth Training Employment and Partnership Programme (Ytepp) Best Business Plan Competition.
Placing second was Lu Anne Harper and third place went to Tricia Ruben, while a special award went to Colin Ottley of Mayaro.
The prize-giving ceremony was held on Wednesday at Ytepp's Chaguanas headquarters at Mulchan Sieuchand Road.
Seecharan's plan to create kuchela, a local condiment, from paw paw, was chosen from more than 250 plans submitted by trainees.
Christo Cave, Ytepp's director of Entrepreneurship Development and Support Services, said the business plan competition received sponsorship of more than $60,000 from Repsol.
He said the 20 finalists received $25,000 worth of sponsorship from Repsol to implement their business ideas. Cave said Ytepp's goal is to create entrepreneurs who will be successful in the world of business.