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Four Students to Represent Malaysia at the 12th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (PDF Type, 33 kByte)

March 21, 2013

Four Students to Represent Malaysia at the 12th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative

– Regional forum will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 1-5 July 2013 

Kuala Lumpur, March 21, 2013 – Hitachi Asia Ltd. today announced the four university students selected to represent Malaysia at the 12th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 1 and 5 July 2013.

Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed graced the announcement event which was held at MITI immediately after the final selection process.

Established by Hitachi, Ltd. in 1996, the initiative offers an opportunity for top students in Asia, who are also active social contributors, to discuss regional economic and social infrastructure issues with prominent regional opinion leaders from the private, public and academic sectors.

The four Malaysian representatives will join their counterparts from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan at the regional forum, which features speakers from around the region under the theme ‘The Road Ahead: ASEAN’s Role in Asia and the Global Economy’.

Mr. Seiji Yoshimura, Managing Director of Hitachi Asia (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd said, “We are grateful to MITI for the support they have given to HYLI throughout the many editions. HYLI offers a unique opportunity for students to make contacts with prominent leaders and have their ideas heard by people who matter. The line-up of speakers for the 12th HYLI comprise some very prominent leaders from around the region. We are gratified to once again receive such strong support from these individuals and organisations who share our belief in grooming Asian youths with strong leadership potential.”

The students(1) chosen to represent Malaysia were selected after passing a rigorous application and evaluation process that included an interview before a panel chaired by Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Secretary-General of MITI. Other members of the Malaysian student selection panel included Dato’ Prof. Dr. Rujhan bin Mustafa, Director-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Dato’ Hafsah Hashim, Chief Executive Officer of SME Corporation Malaysia and Mr. Seiji Yoshimura.

The students were shortlisted from seven participating universities — Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS and Taylor’s University. “I believe that leaders of tomorrow should be able to think critically, have a good grasp of local and regional issues as well as have the ability to articulate their ideas and thoughts on specific issues. MITI is supportive of HYLI because it provides just that – the opportunity for students to demonstrate their leadership abilities and potential. We hope that programmes like this will receive the support and acknowledgment that it deserves,” said Datuk Dr. Rebecca.

12th HYLI theme focuses on ASEAN

With AEC 2015 just two years away, a great deal of work remains to be done and some observers question the impact that greater economic integration will bring. Connectivity is a critical factor that will play a critical role in the continued success of the region. Accordingly, the theme of the 12th HYLI is The Road Ahead: ASEAN’s Role in Asia and the Global Economy.

An impressive line-up of speakers will convey their thoughts on two sub-themes:

  1. AEC 2015: What can ASEAN really expect and Asia’s significance in the global economy
  2. Connectivity: The driver of ASEAN competitiveness.

Notes:

(1) Announcement of selected students will be made at the event.

About Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI)

The “Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative” (HYLI) is a community relations programme that aims to identify and nurture potential Asian leaders by bringing them together to discuss regional issues with influential government officials, prominent business leaders, academics and NGO representatives. Since its inauguration in Singapore in 1996, the HYLI has been successful in bringing the best and brightest students in Asia together. Currently, the seven HYLI participating countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan. The initiative offers student participants a unique platform to broaden their outlook on regional and global issues while promoting Asian values and cross-cultural understanding. For more information, please visit http://www.hitachi.com/society/global/hyli/.

About Hitachi Asia Ltd.

Hitachi Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., established in Singapore in 1989, operates across seven Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar). Business includes information systems, power and industrial systems, digital media systems, and international procurement. For more information about Hitachi Asia, please visit the website at https://www.hitachi.com.sg.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2011 (ended March 31, 2012) consolidated revenues totalled 9,665 billion yen ($117.8 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, industrial, transportation and urban development systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com

Enquiry

Corporate Communications Group, Hitachi Asia Ltd.

ccg@has.hitachi.com.sg