Hitachi initiative grooms future regional leaders

This community relations programme, which debuted in 1996, aims to identify and nurture potential Asian leaders by bringing them together to discuss regional issues with influential government officials, prominent business leaders, academics, and NGO representatives.

The initiative offers student participants a unique platform to broaden their outlook on regional and global issues while promoting Asian values and cross-cultural understanding.

This year, 31 top university student leaders from eight stakeholder countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan, gathered in Manila to hold meaningful discussions with high-profile regional leaders on pressing transportation challenges facing the ASEAN region. The 31 students (four from Vietnam) were selected from over 230 applications from 51 universities in the region.

The four-day event saw a strong line-up of high-profile speakers from the region, such as Arnel Paciano Casanova, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from the Philippines; Danang Parikesit, president of the Indonesia Transportation Society; Somprasong Suttayamully, director of Business Development for Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand; and Pham Thanh Tung, general director of the International Co-operation Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport.

“For almost two decades, it has been extremely encouraging and heartening for us to be supported by many of the most respected and prominent leaders in the region. Their passion and enthusiasm for grooming the future generation has allowed HYLI to cultivate a strong community of leaders in ASEAN with a sound understanding of the region’s challenges,” said Hirohiko Morisaki, managing director at Hitachi Asia Ltd.

“Our HYLI alumni will prove to be an important asset to bring about a brighter future for the region,” Morisaki added.

Ichiro Iino, chief executive for Asia, Hitachi Ltd. shared, “HYLI provides a unique platform to broaden the regional and global outlooks of students through interactive discussions with regional subject experts. In addition, it also allows Hitachi to understand real issues faced in the world, which is crucial to ensuring that Hitachi develops solutions that answer society’s challenges.”

In addition to the various forums and workshops designed to ensure students’ rich networking and learning opportunities, the students visited Gawad Kalinga Village and Bonifacio Global City to understand how transportation and urban development affects the lives of local residents.