Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.

Deputy Prime Minister Launches Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative Alumni Forum (PDF Type, 70 kByte)

July 5, 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Launches Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative Alumni Forum

Asia’s leaders gather in Singapore to brainstorm solutions to Asia’s challenges

Singapore, 5 July 2010 – Hitachi Asia Ltd. today announced the official opening of the Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) Alumni Forum, a special edition of the long-running community relations programme. Gracing the event was Guest-of-Honour Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Singapore.

Themed ‘Driving Asia to a New Paradigm – What is Asia’s role in the global arena?’, some of the region’s key challenges will be put under the spotlight by Asia’s brightest minds at the Forum from 5 – 6 July at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

This two-day Forum was attended by about 300 HYLI alumni members and guests, who are Asia’s top personalities from the public, private as well as academic sectors, brainstorming for possible solutions to keep Asia on the growth path.

Mr Teo, who delivered the Opening Address, was also the guest-of-honour at the inaugural HYLI forum in Singapore in 1996.

Dr Tsutomu Kanai, Chairman Emeritus of Hitachi, Ltd., and the Japanese Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Mr Makoto Yamanaka, also made speeches during the Opening Ceremony.

Dr Kanai said, “Hitachi expects the HYLI alumni to challenge the discussed issues for Asia’s further development by utilizing what had been addressed by the speakers during the forum.”

The exchanges during the forum will be compiled into a White Paper at the end the event, which will be distributed to governments, thought-leaders and businesses in the region.

A Gathering of Leaders at HYLI Alumni Forum

Ambassador Muhamad Noor Yacob, APEC’s Fixed Term Executive Director, will be delivering his keynote speech on Day Two with focus on the key topics of the forum.

The sub-themes that will be discussed include Strengthening Asia’s Social Infrastructure, Developing Asia’s Financial Landscape – Lessons Learnt and Future Plans, Improving Asia’s Quality of Life and Asia’s Environmental and Eco Development – Environmental Issues and Conservation Plans.

Leading the sessions are some of Asia’s key personalities including:

  • Mr Hidehiko Nishiyama, Director-General for International Trade Policy, Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry, Japan
  • Dr Suvarn Walaisathien, former Deputy Minister of Commerce, Thailand
  • Dr Luu Ngoc Trinh, Director General of Institute of World Economics and Politics
  • Atty. Antonio A. Oposa, Jr., President of The Law of Nature Foundation, Philippines

About Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative

HYLI was established by Hitachi, Ltd. as a corporate social responsibility programme to identify and groom the future leaders in Asia to be more enterprising, innovative and global-minded. This year’s forum is the 10th edition of this initiative and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Hitachi Group.

Since its inauguration in Singapore in 1996, the HYLI initiative has been successfully attracting regional community participation from some of the best and brightest students. Hitachi believes that as ASEAN member nations strive to create a strong foundation for their countries by nurturing the youths, companies and individuals should also play their part.

Please visit http://www.hitachi.com/society/global/hyli/index.html or refer to the attached brochure for more information about the HYLI Alumni Forum.

About Hitachi Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2009 (ended March 31, 2010) consolidated revenues totaled 8,968 billion yen ($96.4 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban 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.

About Hitachi Asia Ltd.

Hitachi Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., established in Singapore in 1989, operates across seven Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). 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.