Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2016 in Myanmar was held at Hilton Nay Pyi Taw on 5 July. The event showcased Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business through hosted seminars, exhibition and gala dinner, presenting a wide range of services, systems and solutions that addressed challenges facing ASEAN cities and societies.

The various speeches and presentations at the business seminar illustrated Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business and how Hitachi can address the challenging issues faced in Myanmar. Through the speeches and presentations delivered by Mr Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman of the Board, Representative Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd.; Mr Masaaki Otake, General Manager, Hitachi Asia Ltd. Myanmar Branch and Deputy Managing Director, Hitachi Asia Ltd.; Mr Yoshitaka Tsuda, Vice-President and Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd.; Mr Alistair Dormer, Senior Vice President and Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. and Executive Chairman of the Board, Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd.; and Mr Atsushi Takita, Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd., distinguished guests were able to understand more about Hitachi’s “collaborative creation” and its Social Innovation Business, such as Hitachi’s existing ICT (Information Communication Technology), railway system and geospatial solutions which are adopted globally. Guest-of-honour H.E. U Kyaw Myo, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communications also recognised Hitachi’s contributions to Myanmar’s infrastructure for over half a century and hoped that Hitachi will continue bringing better technologies for Myanmar’s future development.

The networking cocktail and gala dinner provided opportunity for mingling and the sharing of ideas among key stakeholders in the market. Besides reiterating Hitachi’s efforts and capability through the speeches of Mr Hiroaki Nakanishi and Mr Ichiro Iino, Chief Executive for Asia Pacific, Hitachi, Ltd., other honourable speakers including H.E. U Myo Thein Gyi, Union Minister for Ministry of Education, and H.E. Mr Tateshi Higuchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar also highlighted Hitachi’s close relationship with Myanmar and conveyed their high expectations of how Hitachi can further contribute to the country’s growth and development.

Hitachi’s key technologies and strengths in the Social Innovation Business were also highlighted at the exhibition, which was held concurrently at the forum. Some of the key business fields showcased include Hitachi in Myanmar, Urban Development, Finance, Public, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Industrial and Services.

Following last year’s success, the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2016 in Myanmar attracted more than 200 distinguished guests. Through this event, Hitachi hopes all attendees would have a greater understanding of its Social Innovation Business and efforts in Myanmar. The Hitachi Social Innovation Forum serves not just as a showcase of Hitachi’s business portfolio and capabilities, but also a reaffirmation of Hitachi’s commitment in Myanmar and the ASEAN region.