Valued customers and partners,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your outstanding cooperation and support throughout the past year and wish you Happy New Year.
This year, the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held in Japan, which aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of Japan's national strategy, Society 5.0. The theme of the Expo is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," and it promises to showcase new scientific and technological advancements. The Sumitomo Group, with its historical roots in Osaka, is fully supporting this Expo, and we at Sumitomo Heavy Industries Group are proud to have our own booth at the Expo. We resonate with this theme and are committed to working towards a sustainable and prosperous future society.
Meanwhile, the situation occurring in Ukraine and the Middle East remains uncertain. The industrial sector faces challenging issues, including disruptions in demand and supply due to geopolitical risks, as well as significant fluctuations in material costs, labor costs, and fuel prices. Facing these challenges, we believe it is essential to adapt to the changes and diversification of production sites and users to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future society.
In the past, the primary needs in plastic product manufacturing were efficiency and productivity of mass production processes. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards such social issues as sustainability, exemplified by carbon neutrality, and labor-saving measures. We anticipate that the introduction of technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, big data, and biotechnology, as proposed by Society 5.0, will further accelerate these advancements. We aim to evolve plastic products and their manufacturing equipment to contribute to a future society where life shines brightly.
Additionally, our division celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. We are deeply grateful for your support and patronage, which have allowed us to reach this milestone year. This year's zodiac sign is "乙巳 (Kinoto-Mi)." "乙" signifies progress despite difficulties, while "巳" symbolizes rebirth and transformation. Inspired by this, we will continue to move forward resiliently and flexibly towards future growth, united and determined as one team.
We wish you prosperity and good health and look forward to your continued support throughout the year.