06 January 2025

Happy New Year to you all.

Last year, the global economy experienced diverse trends. While the U.S. economy maintained its strength with steady consumer spending, Europe showed signs of recovery but still grappled with stagnation. China continued to be hindered by a prolonged real estate slump and sluggish consumer spending, leading to a deceleration in economic growth.
In Japan, improved corporate profits supported a rise in capital investment, while employment and income conditions steadily improved. Despite the challenges posed by global inflation, the economy managed to recover at a moderate pace.

The evolution of technologies such as GX, DX, CASE, and generative AI is opening new avenues for growth and transforming the way we work.

Under these circumstances, the Sumitomo Electric Group is committed to achieving the goals set in our Mid-term Management Plan 2025 (25M), ensuring sustainable growth and aiming for further development. We aim to secure growth beyond the set goals by contributing to multi-stakeholders in accordance with the principle of “Goho-Yoshi” (Five-way-Win).


In light of the above, I would like to highlight the following three key priorities for all employees this year:

1. Reaffirming the Principle of "Safety First"
At the foundation of our Group’s SEQCDD framework, "Safety" is listed first. Ensure that safety always takes precedence over production or delivery schedules. If you sense anything unusual or unsafe, do not hesitate to stop operations, even if it disrupts production.

2. Strengthening the Resilience of the Supply Chain
In recent years, regulations and frameworks related to the environment and human rights have been increasingly reinforced, particularly in Europe and the U.S. To address these developments, we must quickly establish internal and Group-wide frameworks, efficiently share information among stakeholders, and leverage DX to enhance supply chain resilience. Please continue to respond proactively to societal and customer expectations while adapting to these evolving regulations.

3. Ensuring Thorough Compliance
Compliance with laws and corporate ethics is the cornerstone of the Sumitomo Electric Group's management and the foundation for its sustainable growth and success. To solidify this foundation, let us revisit the Sumitomo Spirit—"Banji-nissei" (Do your sincere best in not only business but also every aspect of your life), "Shinyo-kakujitsu" (Place importance on integrity and sound management), and "Fusu-furi" (Do not act rashly or carelessly in pursuit of immoral business)—and rigorously adhere to all relevant laws, operational standards, and customer specifications.


This year marks a pivotal moment for the Sumitomo Electric Group, as we conclude our mid-term management plan, 25M, and prepare for the highly anticipated Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, an event of significant importance for the Kansai region, where our Group was founded.

As we work together to achieve the goals of 25M, we must strive to enhance our corporate value and share the fruits of our success with all five stakeholders—employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, and shareholders/investors—in line with the “Goho-Yoshi” principle.

Looking ahead, let us aim for even greater heights by embracing new challenges and continuing our journey toward realizing VISION 2030.