Dai-ichi Life becomes gold sponsor of Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018

Dai-ichi Life also lined up at the races of Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018

As a part of the activities to mark the 45^th anniversary of Vietnamese-Japanese diplomatic ties, on November 18, 2018 the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Finance, Tuoi Tre News, and Mainichi News (Japan) entered into a co-operation to organise Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 – Run for Traffic Safety at Ly Thai To park, Hanoi.

Besides sponsoring this intriguing event, 16 talented runners of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam took part in the run and reached Top 10 in Kizuna Group (Japanese companies), with the enthusiastic encouragement of more than 100 staff and financial consultants of the company. Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 attracted the participation of over 800 runners from Vietnam, Japan, and other countries, creating a lively sport event which celebrates the booming relationship between two countries.

Tran Dinh Quan, general director of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, said, “Each successful milestone of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam results from the generous instruction and support from local ministries and departments based on the great fellowship between Japan and Vietnam during the past 45 years. Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 – Run for Traffic Safety is a meaningful sporting and cultural event that highlights Japan’s regard for humanism. We are so proud of not only being the gold sponsor, but also getting a chance to genuinely compete in the relay race. We also deeply feel the value of teamwork, the power of gathering an individual into a group. Moreover, Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018 is also a good opportunity for us to connect, learn from colleagues and friends working at Japanese enterprises, as well as in other firms doing business in Vietnam.”

Dai-ichi Life's employees at the race

Ekiden relay race is a long-distance relay running sport originated from Japan. Members in one team would hand over a Tasuki (relay band) at a designated place from the front runner to the next one. Tasuki passed through team members symbolises solidarity, cordiality, and Kizuna (friendship) that connects people. 2017 has marked the centenary since the establishment of Ekiden.

Besides sponsoring this event, for over the past 11 years, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam has proudly pioneered and initiated various impactful philanthropic and community projects with the contribution of more than VND26 billion ($1.13 million), such as charity eye surgery programmes, providing clean water and scholarships for students in need, building rural bridges, blood donation, providing relief to flood-victim families, and granting charity houses, among others. Dai-ichi Life Vietnam was granted the “Corporate Social Responsibility Award” by Asia Insurance Review for two times, the first time in 2013 for the project “For A Better Life” – providing clean drinking water for more than 24,000 pupils in the rural provinces of Vietnam – and the second time in November 2015 for the project “Million bricks for a happy life” – building 10 bridges in the rural areas of Vietnam.

On January 17, 2018, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam was honoured to receive the Third Class Labour Medal, granted by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for its contributions to the economic development of Vietnam as well as its significant community works.

In the first 10 months of 2018, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam has scored impressive business results with new premium revenue increasing by 56 per cent and total premium increasing by 49 per cent against the same period of 2017.

Dai-ichi Life was founded in 1902 as Japan's first mutual life insurance company (Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company). After Dai-ichi Life demutualised and was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2010, it shifted to a holding company structure in 2016 (Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc.).

Dai-ichi Life Group owns total assets of $485 billion and insurance premium revenue of $63 billion (as of March 31, 2018). Besides Vietnam, Dai-ichi Life Group has been developing its life insurance business in India, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, and the United States. Dai-ichi Life Group has opened its Asia-Pacific Regional Head Office in Singapore and North America Regional Head Office in New York.

As a subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc. and a member of Dai-ichi Life Group, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company of Vietnam, Ltd. (Dai-ichi Life Vietnam) was established in January 2007. This is the first foreign market that Dai-ichi Life Group expanded its business through a 100 per cent owned subsidiary.

After more than 11 years of operations, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam now serves over 2.2 million customers through more than 1,300 staff and 80,000 financial consultants. Dai-ichi Life Vietnam is proud to hold the third position in terms of customer service network with nearly 280 offices and general agencies, covering 63 cities and provinces nationwide.

Besides, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam received the prize of “Top 100 Golden Star Brand 2015,” “Trusted Brand” for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, “Top 50 famous Brands 2014, 2018”, “TypicalCommercial & Service Business” in 2010, 2013, 2016, and "Best Life Insurance Company" at the Golden Dragon Awards for 10 consecutive years (2008-2017). These prestigious national awards have demonstrated the exceptional achievements of Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, as well as its contributions to Vietnam’s economic growth.

Dai-ichi Life staff celebrating a successful Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden 2018