- Structures to Support Business Activities
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- Corporate Governance
- Sumitomo's Business Philosophy / Sumitomo Corporation Group's Corporate Mission Statement
- Corporate Governance System
- Internal Control and Internal Audits
- Compliance
- Risk Management
- Human Resource Management
- Towards a Better, Sustainable Society (CSR)
- Message from the Chair of the CSR Committee
- Environmental Initiatives
- Social Initiatives
Social Initiatives
Social Contribution Activities
The Sumitomo Corporation Group, as a global organization, conducts various social contribution activities in many countries and regions around the world while working to further strengthen its relationships with local stakeholders in consideration of the unique social conditions of each community.
The Sumitomo Corporation Group's Basic Principles on Social Contribution Activities
OBJECTIVE
We, as a global organization, will work on social issues through our business activities and social contribution activities with the aim of building a sustainable society by implementing the Sumitomo Corporation Group's Management Principles and Activity Guidelines.
ACTIVITIES
We will engage in social contribution activities aimed at developing the next generation of human resources who will drive the sustainable development of society, and contributing to local communities in areas we do business all over the world. We will also take part in various activities as a good corporate citizen.
APPROACH
We will perform and seek to continuously improve our activities with modesty and high aspirations and endeavor to maintain a high level of transparency while strengthening our relationships with all our stakeholders.
In Europe · CIS · Middle East · Africa
- Support for the activities of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in contributing to the development of dramatic art and culture in local communities — U.K. 1
- Donation of operating funds and uniforms to local soccer teams — France
- Co-sponsor of Japan Foundation's Nihon no Aki (Japanese Autumn) program for introducing Japanese culture — Russia
- Co-sponsor and awards donator of Japanese speech contests — Russia, Czech, Kazakhstan
- Support for AURORA CENTER, a local NGO developing operations supporting school attendance by children with disabilities — Romania
- Participation in a tree-planting event to create a Japanese garden where people can relax — Ukraine 2
- Support for the construction of a training centre for early childhood teachers at Qatar University — Qatar 3
- Donation of a vehicle for people with disabilities to a rehabilitation center — Libya 4
- Support for the mobile library project run by local NGO SAPESI — South Africa
- Support for the Sankyu Thank You Project protecting the lives of pregnant mothers giving birth and their babies — Kenya, Uganda 5
- Support for infrastructure and health care improvements of local communities as part of the Ambatovy nickel project — Madagascar
In Japan
- Implementation of the Sumitomo Corporation Youth Challenge Program for the Revitalization of East Japan in support of young people working to help affected areas recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake
- Support for the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership for nurturing the next generation of leaders in the U.S. and Japan
- Support for the activities of the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra
- Support for production and proliferation of "barrier-free" movies watched with audio descriptions and Japanese-language subtitles 6
- Hosting company training and providing homestays for university students from China 7
- Hosting "Have Fun with Mom," a tour to a food manufacturer for children and their mothers 8
- Participation in the Pink-ribbon Movement for the eradication of breast cancer
- Organizing events for local residents hosted by commercial complexes of the Sumitomo Corporation Group, such as Terrace Mall Shonan 9
- Support for TABLE FOR TWO and CUP FOR TWO activities
- Cooperation with Japanese Red Cross Society blood donation campaigns
- Cooperation with the Japan-Korea Strait College, providing internships for students from Kyushu University and Pusan National University 10
- Participation in bottle-cap campaign aimed at providing polio vaccines to children throughout the world
In Asia · Oceania
- Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship to help university students in Asia — various Asian countries 11
- Internship programs, work experience programs, and office tours for students — various Asian countries 12
- Courses bearing the Sumitomo Corporation name at Tsinghua University — Beijing and Nankai University — Tianjin in China, and National Economics University and Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Donation of monetary relief for areas affected by typhoons, floods and other natural disasters — China, the Philippines
- Educational assistance for students from impoverished areas in Anhui, Guangdong and Yunnan provinces — China
- Donation and delivery of coal to elderly citizens living alone to enable them to warm their homes — South Korea 13
- Support for educational and infrastructure improvements in local communities as part of overseas industrial park development projects — Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia
- Japanese language education and culture learning for junior high school students in Da Nang City — Vietnam
- Support for educational and health care improvements in local communities as part of the Tanjung Jati B coal fired power plant project and the Batu Hijau copper and gold mine business — Indonesia
- Donation of cash, books, food and other items to facilities for children in slum areas — Thailand 14
- Donation of uniforms and school supplies to elementary school children in impoverished parts of Yangon's suburbs — Myanmar 15
- Conducting a technical training program for local students — India
In Americas
- Support for the Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia Business School — U.S.
- Support for organizing Japan Day, an event to showcase Japanese culture — U.S. 16
- Support for art museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) — U.S.
- Support for efforts to develop a cure for leukemia, Alzheimer's, and other diseases — U.S.
- Collection within a Group company for donating funds to the Children's Miracle Network, an organization supporting children's hospitals in various regions — Canada 17
- Environmental protection such as by transplanting rare plants growing on a factory construction site and tree planting and contribution to local communities by developing public roads — Mexico
- Support for local cultural activities and sports events — Brazil
- Support for educational and infrastructure improvements in local communities as part of the San Cristobal silver, zinc and lead mine business — Bolivia
- Donation of Christmas cakes, school supplies and playground equipment to villages and elementary schools in close vicinity to companyowned forests — Chile 18
- Support for indigenous people's villages project promoting fruit cultivation and folk handicrafts — Chile
- Donation of eucalyptus tree saplings to villages neighboring companyowned forests — Chile 19
Developing the Next Generation of Human Resources
Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Starts in Myanmar
The Scholarship Awarding Ceremony at the Yangon Institute of Economics
In 1996, we established the Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship as part of our 50th anniversary in the trading business. Through this program, we are supporting development of the next generation of leaders in Asia.
We started the scholarship program in Myanmar in 2013, and in January 2014 held a Scholarship Awarding Ceremony at the Yangon Institute of Economics, which received support through the program. Over 80 people attended the ceremony, including the 24 scholarship recipients, representatives from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Education, the local Japanese Embassy, and the Yangon Regional Government.
"It is an honor to have started this scholarship program in the same year that Japan and Myanmar marked the 60th year of diplomatic relations and 60th year since Sumitomo Corporation established a base in Myanmar," said Hideshi Mega, General Manager of the Yangon Office, Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania Pte. Ltd. Mr. Mega presented each of the scholarship recipients with a certificate, and a representative of the recipients gave a short speech. "We would like to use this scholarship as inspiration to study even harder and equip ourselves to contribute to society after graduation."
Sumitomo Corporation will continue to support the growth of students who will lead Myanmar's development moving ahead through this scholarship program.
Sumitomo Corporation Youth Challenge Program for the Revitalization of East Japan Holding the Fiscal 2014 Activity and Research Subsidy Startup Orientation
Young people with their presented items, preparing to deepen their understanding through subsidized activities
The Sumitomo Corporation Youth Challenge Program for the Revitalization of East Japan supports the revitalization of regions and the rebuilding of the daily lives of those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The program has entered its third year of activities. In March 2014, we held a Startup Orientation at our Head Office as part of the fiscal 2014 activity and research subsidy. 49 organizations eligible for the subsidy in fiscal 2014 were invited for an orientation on the subsidy and a presentation of subsidiary certificates. There were also reports from organizations that received the subsidy in fiscal 2013.
Selection Committee Chairman Takeshi Jitsuyoshi, Director and Executive Secretary of the Kobe Empowerment Center, revealed some of the selection criteria during his post selection speech, saying that some activities had been questioned for "supporting disaster-stricken areas but not necessarily fulfilling the essential requirements of the Youth Challenge Program," while others were questioned for "fulfilling the Youth Challenge but having little to do with recovery from the disaster." He also pointed out that "As needs for support are changing after three years from the earthquake, some organizations are beginning to struggle with the direction of their programs; support activities are entering a challenging phase."
In fiscal 2014, high school students also became part of the program, kicking off by deepening youth exchanges among 90 people with similar ambitions. We have expectations of spreading our circle of support through the sensitivity and vitality that are distinctive qualities of young people.
Contributing to Local Communities All Over the World
Educational Support for Impoverished Areas in China
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua (center) at the signing ceremony
China's economy has grown remarkably in recent years, but even now there are students who have to give up on studying because of poverty. The Chinese government has made it a national project to prioritize supporting these impoverished areas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has been engaged in assistance efforts in Jinping and Malipo counties of Yunnan Province since 1992. Amid this climate, Sumitomo Corporation joined with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China to provide educational support for the impoverished areas in China's Yunnan Province from 2008, and has now decided to continue that support through to 2018. Over the next five years, 50 million yen in total will be donated to the Sumitomo Corporation Chinese Student Assistance Fund to maintain support for high school students from poor households so they may continue their studies.
In February 2014, we signed a second memorandum on such assistance with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua. "These are very meaningful activities and, on behalf of Jinping and Malipo counties and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for their continuation," Ambassador Cheng said.
Over the past five years the fund has helped 1,800 students go on to high school, 300 of whom have subsequently advanced to university. We hope that our activities supporting impoverished students with the ability and desire to learn and attend school, will lead to developing young human resources who will contribute to the development of local societies.
Activities as a Good Corporate Citizen
Supporting the Activities of the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO)
Members of the two junior orchestras perform
The 55th Sumitomo Corporation Young Symphony Concert was held in November 2013 at the Main Hall in the Alios Iwaki Performing Arts Center in Iwaki by the Fukushima TV (FTV) Junior Orchestra and the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), which we have been supporting since 1992. This was the second charity concert to have been held in disaster-stricken areas following a performance in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture in November 2012. The concert attracted 923 people, who enjoyed the show.
Sumitomo Corporation matched the proceeds from the sales of tickets to the concerts with a donation of the same amount to the Great East Japan Earthquake Fukushima Children's Fund, operated by Fukushima Prefecture.
On the day of the concert the orchestra played "Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World" and the musical story "Totto Chan: The Little Girl at the Window," with an encore featuring everybody in attendance forming a choir to sing "Furusato."
One of the comments from the audience was: "This live performance reverberated through to the depths of my heart and was so wonderful it almost made me forget about continuing the life of an evacuee."
Social Contribution Activity Report
Sumitomo Corporation provides a running update of the Group's social contribution activities around the world in the form of activity reports published on our corporate website to provide a broader overview including activities not mentioned in this publication.