MHI President Eisaku Ito Offers Words of Encouragement to New Employees at the Company's 2025 Welcoming Ceremony

Tokyo, April 1, 2025 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) held a welcoming ceremony this morning for employees newly joining the company this year. President and CEO Eisaku Ito offered words of encouragement for the new employees who have joined MHI Group and are starting their lives as members of society, speaking both as the head of a manufacturing company and as a senior member of society. He conveyed the attitude they should have as MHI Group employees, and expressed his strong expectations for their future success, telling them that "If you're going to do something, enjoy it."

Summary of President Ito's Message
The world is at a major turning point. Tensions in international relations and geopolitical risks persist, and instability is rising. In the business world, change is happening rapidly in terms of decarbonization, digital transformation, and risk management. The business environment for MHI Group is changing radically, and it is precisely at times like these that we should value and respect the starting point of our company. Having laid the groundwork, President Ito went on to give an overview of the origins of MHI Group that constitute its starting point, and explained the first of the Three Principles of Mitsubishi Group, "We deliver reliable and innovative solutions that make a lasting difference to customers and communities worldwide."

MHI Group Vision - Where are we headed?

• MHI Group has contributed to society based on the principle of providing solutions to societal challenges with technology and know-how. In recent years, the issues facing society have become more complex, and the value demanded by customers and the market has changed. For us to continue to contribute to society and people, it is important to not only cultivate deep insight into the changes in society and technology and to respond flexibly to various needs, but also to offer new value to customers, and generate innovation.
• In 2021, MHI Group made our 2040 Carbon Neutrality Declaration, "MISSION NET ZERO". This is a high-reaching aspiration to meet the Japanese government's target 10 years ahead of schedule, but MHI Group possesses a wide range of diverse technologies to support carbon neutrality, such as energy-saving technologies, new energy technologies, and CO₂ capture technologies, so we should be able to achieve this goal.
• Even if the goal of carbon neutrality remains the same, the way to proceed differs depending on the situation in each country and region. We aim to contribute to this major global challenge by providing a diverse range of technologies and solutions to meet the circumstances of each region.
• "Smart social infrastructure" realized through the fusion of mechanical systems with AI and digital technologies is expanding as a new business domain. Examples include automatic operation of vehicles, and the automation of logistics systems. By combining our proprietary technologies with external technologies such as digitalization and AI, we aim to provide new value and develop new business fields.
• The 2024 Medium-Term Business Plan launched last year aims to build on our heritage as a manufacturer to expand our business domain, and make us a hub for the ecosystems that transform society. We also plan to develop our business around the focus areas of providing stable energy supplies, contributing to new challenges for national security, and decarbonization, as well as energy conservation, labor savings, and automation. I encourage all new employees to fully demonstrate their flexible thinking and perspectives, and become a powerful presence that supports such businesses.

Expectations for new employees

• Looking back on my own time as a young employee, I want to give some words of encouragement to all of you. When I joined the company, I was assigned to a project to develop a turbine for jet engines based on a new concept. Since the project required originality, it seems that young people were deliberately chosen to work on it. By being part of the team entrusted with the entire process of manufacturing, from planning to development, design, prototyping, and evaluation, I was able to gain valuable experience that would lay the foundation for my future. A corporate culture of being able to take on big challenges from a young age is a key feature of MHI Group. There was a lot of pressure of course, but as I gained experience, including failures, I was able to feel myself growing.
• MHI Group's greatest appeal lies in its deep connections with society. I'm sure that many of you joined our company with the desire to contribute to society through manufacturing. MHI Group offers countless opportunities for you to realize this aspiration. This is because our field of business is expanding globally, from the bottom of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the universe. The hurdles that must be overcome are high, of course. However, you will be able to grow greatly in proportion, and combine your own growth with the rewarding sense of contributing to society that lies ahead.
• MHI has more than 700 technologies. The diversity of our technologies, from hardware to software, is what sets us apart as a company. By combining these technologies, we have achieved unprecedented feats of manufacturing. Nurturing these technologies into businesses and implementing them in society requires cooperation with a wide range of partners, and providing solutions that are optimized for the whole. It is essential to bring together any people with diverse, extensive knowledge and perspectives to form teams, inspire each other, and take on challenges with a forward-looking attitude.
• People are the foundation of MHI Group's business, and the collective power of diverse human resources is what makes for organizational strength. We will provide each of you with a variety of challenges and opportunities for growth to enhance your individual abilities. At the same time, such challenges and opportunities are not just given to you, but something that you must also carve out for yourself. I encourage all of you to discover the social issues that you want to tackle during your life, unify them with the goals of the organization, and continue to take on challenges and grow.
• Finally, I would like to touch on three points that I would like everyone to particularly keep in mind during their daily work. The first is to work cheerfully and happily. Always be conscious of the principle of "safety first," which is the backbone of the manufacturing industry, and pursue your work while maintaining good communication with others. The second point is to let yourself get used to things. There will be a lot of things that you don't understand at first, but start by giving it a try. I believe that you will be able to sense the change in the way you look at things and feel. The third point is to be yourself. Think carefully about how your work benefits society, and the goals that are right for you, and put them into practice.
• Since our founding in 1884, the history that MHI has woven over more than 140 years was made possible by those who came before us sincerely facing ever-changing societal issues, and continuing to take on challenges and grow. "Challenge and growth" is the DNA etched in MHI Group, and our corporate culture. There are many jobs in MHI Group that can contribute to the advancement of society, are performed on a global or planetary scale, and that only we can handle. If you're going to do something, enjoy it. There will be difficult moments, of course. Still, don't forget to have fun. With a sense of the desire and responsibility to proactively create and support society, let us maximize the potential of MHI Group, and continue to take on challenges on the global stage.