June 11, 2009

Hitachi receives Secure Trade Partnership Certification from Singapore Customs

Singapore, 11 June 2009: Hitachi Asia Ltd. today received the Secure Trade Partnership (STP) Certification from the Singapore Customs. Hitachi Asia is the first Japanese electronics company to receive this certification.

Through a stringent audit conducted by the Singapore Customs in March and April 2009, Hitachi satisfied the security criteria required to obtain the STP certification. “Receiving the STP certification is a demonstration of Hitachi’s commitment to adopting and implementing appropriate security measures and a willingness to assume responsibility for keeping our operations and supply chain secure. I believe that this certification will give our customers confidence and trust whenever they think of Hitachi,” said Mr Toshio Toda, Managing Director of Hitachi Asia.

As a STP-certified company, Hitachi Asia is recognised as a low risk and trusted partner of Singapore Customs.

Hitachi Asia also played a vital role in Singapore’s mutual recognition discussion with two countries. Hitachi was one of the few companies selected by Singapore Customs for Customs Officers from the United States Customs and Borders Protection as well as Canada Border Services Agency to witness the on-site validation conducted by Singapore Customs at the premises of the Industrial Components and Equipment Division as part of the negotiation for mutual recognition between Singapore, United States and Canada.

Launched on 25 May 2007, the STP is a voluntary certification programme administered by Singapore Customs that encourages companies to adopt robust security measures in their trading operations to improve the security of the global supply chain. The STP programme is consistent with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade, adopted in June 2005.