Message from the President & CEO

Promoting Integrated Group Management for Further Progress and Continuing to Challenge Ourselves Even in the Age of VUCA

For 135 years since its founding in 1889, the Kanematsu Group has stayed true to its Corporate Principle to contribute to social and economic development through the pursuit of corporate activities with a pioneering spirit, imagination, and ingenuity, an approach that aligns with today’s Sustainable Development Goals. There have been many times over the course of our long history when, much like it is now, the future was uncertain. However, by leveraging the culture and traditions passed down from our founder, the Kanematsu Group has always been able to adapt and embrace change. We are confident that, going forward, we will be able to make even greater strides by staying centered on our core beliefs.

In March 2024, the Group announced “integration 1.0,” a three-year medium-term management plan that began in April 2024. This new plan is named after the Kanematsu Group’s medium- to long-term vision of becoming a solutions provider leading the transformation to efficient and sustainable supply chains and is meant to further promote integrated management across the Group. Among our assets, we count our 20,000 business partners as well as a deep on-site understanding and knowledge of supply chain operations cultivated through our trading business. Under the plan, we aim to evolve into a new solution provider that is more than a mere extension of past business by reinforcing digital transformation (DX), green transformation (GX), and innovation—strengths we cultivated and developed under future 135, our previous medium-term vision—and by multiplying the Group’s intangible assets as much possible.

Today, the future is unclear, clouded by international tensions and steadily mounting environmental problems. At the same time, technology is evolving at breakneck speed, making this truly the era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). While taking these external circumstances into account, we are always willing to challenge ourselves and move forward. By harnessing the power of each employee and leveraging change in pursuit of growth and progress, the Kanematsu Group will continue to provide value-added solutions that further meet the changing needs of our customers moving forward.

July 2024

President & CEO

Yoshiya Miyabe