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Symphony Creative Solutions Pte. Ltd. (SCS),* an NYK Group company, in cooperation with NUS Enterprise**, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, held a panel discussion on November 27 at BLOCK 71 Singapore*** in Singapore to promote open innovation in the shipping and logistics industry.
At the event, titled ???Kopi Chat Deep Dive with SCS ??? Ocean of Opportunities in a Trillion Dollar Market,??? Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd.,**** spoke about shipping issues, the logistics business, and the expectations for utilization of advanced technology.
Joining him for the panel discussion were representatives from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the National University of Singapore, and a startup. Many questions were raised from participants who filled the seminar hall, and an active discussion followed. As a platform for open innovation in the shipping and logistics industry, SCS plans to hold a series of these events and also to sponsor a contest for startups next spring.
The NYK Group will continue to promote innovation and provide new value to the maritime and logistics industry by developing advanced, creative solutions.
* Symphony Creative Solutions Pte. Ltd.
Jointly established in Singapore in March 2016 by the NYK Group, Weathernews Inc., and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. to develop and market next-generation solutions in the shipping and logistics fields.
** NUS Enterprise
NUS Enterprise promotes entrepreneurship, cultivates global mind-sets and talents through the synergies of experiential entrepreneurial education and active industry partnerships, and fosters ecosystem building for start-ups.
*** BLOCK 71 Singapore
Located in the Ayer Rajah industrial estate and recognized as an entrepreneurial enclave for tech start-ups in Asia.
**** Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd.
An operating company established by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha for the integration of their container shipping businesses.
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In November, NYK and three other companies* jointly held a workshop at DNP Plaza in Tokyo on the theme of fair trade and the U.N.???s sustainable development goals (SDGs)** with the support of Fairtrade Label Japan, a non-profit organization.
Fair trade plays a significant role in the achievement of eight of the 17 SDGs. In addition, compliance with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games sustainable sourcing code is being encouraged of all stakeholders in the games.
About 50 people interested in fair trade, including employees from companies that sponsored the event, took part and learned about regional disparity through a simulation game about international trade. In addition, the companies introduced their initiatives for fair trade product consumption in their offices and encouraged the participants to expand their cooperation for the achievement of SDGs. NYK has offered Fairtrade certified coffee and tea at its head office in Tokyo since 2015.
Increasing the awareness of fair trade products has recently become a more important issue for the NYK Group, which as a good corporate citizen will continue to take an active role in social issues and make efforts to realize a sustainable society.
* Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., NTT DATA Corporation, and Konica Minolta Japan Inc., all of which encourage their employees to consume fair trade products.
** Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted at the U.N. Summit in September 2015, established 17 SDGs to realize a global society by 2030. In Japan, a department to promote SDGs was launched in May 2016 and comprises the prime minister (as general manager) and all Cabinet ministers.
- Reference
Announcement on October 30, 2015, ???NYK Switches to FairTrade Coffee,??? http://www.nyk.com/english/release/3710/004136.html
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During the month of November and December, NYK offered scholarships to 78 outstanding Chinese students at two maritime universities in China. This was the 17th consecutive year for NYK to demonstrate its corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the company???s dedicated support of maritime education.
On November 13, an awards ceremony was held at Dalian Maritime University (DMU), where 42 students were recognized for their academic excellence and fine demeanor. They were encouraged to develop themselves into socially responsible and intelligent young Chinese having international visions. Those in attendance included Hiroyasu Takaizumi, NYK chief representative for China, and Mr. Zhao Youtao, vice president of DMU.
???I believe that mutual understanding and tolerance are ultimate features of a quality education, and campus life in university is the best period to cultivate such a spirit,??? Mr. Takaizumi stressed at the ceremony. ???To enhance the neighborliness between Japan and China, youths like you are asked to take the lead in promoting mutual understanding through face-to-face communication, particularly in light of the historical and cultural links between the two countries.???
Mr. Zhao expressed his appreciation and respect for NYK's long-term support, particularly during years when economies and the maritime industry were struggling.
On December 6, another awards ceremony was held at Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), where 36 students were given scholarships by Mr. Takaizumi. Mr. Shi Xin, vice president of SMU, reviewed SMU???s cooperation with NYK and offered his sincere appreciation for NYK???s continuous 17-year devotion to maritime education.
Earlier in the year, on October 25, Mr. Takaizumi had delivered a lecture in Japanese to the students at SMU. The lecture, titled ???The Past and Present of Shipping industry in Japan,??? provided a comprehensive, vivid introduction to the industry and attracted around 50 students.
Since 2001, when the NYK Group initiated this CSR program, NYK has awarded dedicated scholarships to 1,052 students at DMU and SMU. The NYK Group will continue to support maritime education to contribute to global trade and society.
