Community
Policy and Basic Approach
The economic activities of companies, such as business operations and raw material harvesting and processing, have a significant impact on local communities. Accordingly, the social responsibility of companies is becoming increasingly important.
Sojitz recognizes that coexistence with local communities is critical as we conduct our businesses. We have therefore set “developing and growing together with local communities” as one of our Key Sustainability Issues (Materiality), and we promote businesses that grow together with local communities. Through our businesses, we work to reduce the environmental and social impact on local communities, and we will continuously communicate with local communities to pursue sustainable business, work to solve issues with local communities, and support education initiatives for younger generations.
Sojitz’s contributions to communities include those conducted through our business activities and those conducted through social contribution activities.
Mine Closure: Policy and Basic Approach
In its mine development and operation business, Sojitz gives due consideration to environmental protection, health and safety management, and contribution to local communities. Mine development entails various risks, but it is our policy to proceed with projects only after internally verifying that sufficient pollution and accident prevention measures are in place. This allows us to prevent risks before they materialize. Even after the mine is in operation, we work to ensure that it operates continuously with thorough safety and health management processes.
We also strive to reduce environmental impact and promote environmental conservation through measures such as mine rehabilitation for all mines as necessary.
Social Contribution Activities: Basic Approach
The Sojitz Group Corporate Statement states that “Sojitz Group creates value and prosperity by connecting the world with a spirit of integrity.” Sojitz Group aims to realize a sustainable society based on this statement. As members of society, each individual employee will strive to address social issues through Key Sustainability Issues (Materiality)-based activities.
Goals and Targets
Medium-term Management Plan 2023
Sojitz has set three areas of focus in Medium-term Management Plan 2023. We expect that each area will contribute to communities, and we will deepen our efforts to this goal.
- Focus Area 1:Essential infrastructure services associated with population and economic growth
- Focus Area 2:“Market-oriented” approach in growth markets such as Vietnam and India
- Focus Area 3:Material and circular economy leading to future decentralized and circular communities
Medium-term Management Plan 2023
Systems
The Sustainability Committee is responsible for discussing the formulation of company-wide policies and goals regarding sustainability—including for local communities, establishing and maintaining systems to put these policies and goals into practice, and monitoring various measures using the ISO14001 management system. The Sustainability Committee reports to the Management Committee and Board of Directors and receives instructions and direction from the Board of Directors.
The Sustainability Committee formulates company-wide policies and targets regarding sustainability, including for coexistence with local communities. It also establishes and maintains systems to put these policies and targets into practice, and monitors various initiatives using the ISO14001 management system.
Additionally, the Finance & Investment Deliberation Council checks individual proposals for their relevance in terms of environmental or social (human rights) risks and sustainability. The Corporate Sustainability Office is responsible for monitoring the policies and targets formulated by the Sustainability Committee, as well as environmental and social (human rights) risks.
Sustainability Committee Members (Current as of June 20, 2023)
Asterisk (*) indicates a Director
Double asterisk (**) indicates a Representative Director
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Systems to Promote and Implement Sustainability
ご参照Systems to Promote and Implement Sustainability
Risk Management Systems
Managing Environmental Risk for new Investment & Loan Projects
Prior to deliberating on new investment and loan projects, we require the department applying for investment and loan approval to complete an “Environmental and Social Risk Checklist.” Using the checklist, the department confirms that they have conducted the required due diligence and taken all necessary measures to deal with potential risks, such as impacts on local communities and labor safety.Monitoring Existing Businesses
Through external and internal analysis, Sojitz Group (including consolidated subsidiaries and equity holding companies), in cooperation with business partners, identifies business fields that pose a high risk to local communities, and identifies where environmental and social issues are generally prone to occur throughout entire supply chains from upstream to downstream. We then investigate the supply chains of Sojitz Group’s businesses to confirm where those points exist. Based on the opinions of third-party experts, we implement the PDCA cycle for actions taken to address risks. We will also strive to ensure that awareness of risk remains high, and we plan to strengthen our efforts to identify new risks.
Initiatives
Overseas Industrial Park Business
To support Japanese companies in setting up overseas operations, Sojitz Group is focusing on the industrial park development business, mainly in Asia. In this business, we not only develop and sell industrial parks, but also provide reliable basic infrastructure such as electricity, water, and sewage systems, and are expanding and enhancing various services, including logistical and IT support, for companies entering the market. In addition, we play a part in the economic development of relevant countries through job creation and technology transfer. Through the continuing expansion of this business, we will contribute to the growth of industry in these countries.
ご参照Sojitz Group to Expand Deltamas City’s (*Kota Deltamas) Industrial Park in Indonesia
Participation in Operations of an International Airport to Aid Sustained Development in Palau
Palau receives about 130,000 tourists annually, and with this number on the rise, the country’ s sole international airport, Palau International Airport has grown in importance. To redevelop this national-level transportation infrastructure, Sojitz set up Palau International Airport Corporation together with the government of Palau in August 2017, through an intermediate holding company established jointly by Sojitz and Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. We also concluded a 20-year contract with the government at that time, entrusting us with refurbishing and expanding the airport terminal, as well as managing its operations.
We will leverage our partner company's airport industry knowledge and network, as well as their expertise in managing passenger terminals to enrich commercial facilities and improve passenger services and convenience. We will also take an active role in making policies to promote tourism and strive to contribute to sustainable economic and social development in Palau, where tourism is the key industry.
Palau International Airport (Concept art of the completed airport)
Indian Railway Project
Sojitz is working to construct a dedicated freight corridor between Delhi and Mumbai together with India’s largest general contractor. The railroad is expected to contribute to India’s economic development by transporting cargo between Delhi in the northern part of the country and the city of Mumbai in the western part of the country, which is undergoing rapid economic growth. In addition, more than 250 Japanese companies have sites in the vicinity of the planned route, and the corridor is expected to contribute to the local business of Japanese companies.
At the track laying site
ご参照Delhi-Mumbai Dedicated Freight Corridor Project in India
Hospital Project in the Republic of Turkey
Sojitz is involved in a hospital project in the Republic of Turkey. In 2017, Sojitz Corporation announced participation in a hospital project in Turkey via a wholly owned subsidiary. Together with Ronesans, Sojitz will construct, operate and manage the Ikitelli Integrated Health Campus (Location: Istanbul, Turkey; the number of beds: 2,682; “Ikitelli IHC”). The Ikitelli IHC will be one of the largest hospital complexes in the world, and the sole hospital facility managed in part by a Japanese company.
In response to Turkey’s hospital bed shortage, the Ministry of Health is planning to build 40,000 beds worth of public hospital facilities through public-private partnerships (PPP). As an “integrated health campus”, Ikitelli IHC will include a general hospital, a cardiovascular hospital, an oncology hospital, a women’s hospital, a children’s hospital, and a neurology and orthopedics hospital. This makes it one of the largest integrated projects in the world as well. The hospital serves as a last line of defense to prevent the collapse of Turkey’s healthcare system.
Social Contributions
Support for Reconstruction after the East Japan Earthquake through Our Business Activities
SOFCO Seafoods Inc.’s Otsuchi plant in Iwate Prefecture suffered large-scale damages in the disaster and was forced to suspend its manufacturing operations. With the support of its affiliates, SOFCO built a new plant in Kamaishi and resumed operations from March 2012. In addition to revitalizing the regional community, rebuilding the SOFCO plant has contributed to reconstruction and job creation on the coast, where the fishing industry is the main industry. SOFCO is working to rebuild its business, which is centered around its main product of salmon flakes.
ご参照SOFCO Seafoods Inc. Begins Production in Kamaishi City
Other Social Contribution Activities and Disaster Relief
Below are examples of Sojitz’s social contribution activities and disaster relief efforts.
ご参照Social Contribution Activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
ご参照Social Contribution in Vietnam
ご参照Social Contribution in Areas of Business
ご参照Support for Reconstruction after Earthquakes
ご参照Sojitz’s Employee Volunteer Activities
ご参照Education Initiatives for the Next Generation
Performance
Disaster Relief Activities and Donations
| Disaster (Time of occurrence) | Donations (*) |
|---|---|
| Relief Aid for Earthquake Damage in Morocco (September 2023) | Donated \5 million |
| Relief Aid for Earthquake Damage in Turkey (March 2023) | Donated ¥10 million |
| Relief Aid for Flood Damage in Pakistan (November 2022) | Donated ¥3 million |
| In-house employee fundraising for emergency COVID-19 relief conducted at workplace vaccination sites and matching contribution donated by Sojitz (2021) | Sojitz Group employees donated ¥990,957 (with Sojitz matching the donation amount) |
| Relief Aid for Damage Caused by the July 2020 Kyushu Floods (July 2020) | Donated ¥5 million |
| Relief Aid for Damage Caused by Typhoon Hagibis (October 2019) | Donated ¥5 million |
| Relief Aid for Sulawesi Earthquake and Tsunami (October 2018) | Donated IDR 500 million (about ¥3.75 million) together with Sojitz Indonesia |
| Relief Aid for Earthquake Damage in Eastern Iburi, Hokkaido (September 2018) | Donated ¥3 million |
| Relief Aid for Heavy Rain Damage in Western Japan (July 2018) | Donated ¥10 million |
| Relief Aid for Earthquake Damage in Kumamoto (April 2016) | Donated cash, drinking water and other supplies totaling ¥10 million on behalf of the Group |
| Relief Aid for Areas Damaged by Tropical Storm Etau (September 2015) | Donated ¥1 million |
| Assistance for Earthquake in Nepal (April 2015) | Donated ¥1 million |
| Assistance for Earthquake Stricken Areas in Yunnan Province, China (August 2014) | Donated ¥1 million |
| Relief Aid for Typhoon Damage (Typhoon Haiyan) in the Philippines (November 2013) | Donated ¥10 million on behalf of the Sojitz Group |
| Relief Aid for New York City (for Victims of Hurricane Sandy that Hit the United States) (November 2012) | Donated $50,000 (equivalent to ¥4.2 million) on behalf of the Group |
| Thailand Flood Damage (August 2011) | Donated cash and relief supplies totaling ¥10 million together with Sojitz Asia and Sojitz (Thailand) |
| Great East Japan Earthquake (March 2011) | Donated ¥100 million |
| Christchurch earthquake (February 2011) | Donated ¥1 million together with Sojitz New Zealand |
| Brazil Flood Damage (January 2011) | Donated ¥3 million together with Sojitz do Brasil |
| Queensland, Australia Flood Damage (January 2011) | Donated A$100 thousand (about ¥8.3 million) together with Sojitz Australia |
| China Landslides (August 2010) | Donated ¥1 million together with Sojitz (China) |
| Pakistan Flood Damage (July－August 2010) | Donated ¥1 million |
| Earthquake in Qinghai Province, China (April 2010) | Donated ¥1 million, plus ¥200 thousand from employees of Sojitz (China) |
* Cash donations are given to the Red Cross in each country and to NGOs working in the disaster areas.