May 4, 2017

Four Students Selected to Represent Myanmar at the 14th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative

Yangon, Myanmar, 4 May 2017 – Hitachi Asia Ltd. today announced the university students selected to represent Myanmar at the 14th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI). To be held in Myanmar for the first time, prominent regional opinion leaders from the private, public and academic sectors will gather in Yangon from 10 – 13 July 2017 to discuss sustainable urbanization issues and engage in dialogue with the student participants. The students will work together to present their ideas about how these issues can be addressed.

The students chosen to represent Myanmar are:

1. Ms. Cherry Wai, Yangon University of Foreign Language
2. Ms. Ei Ei Theint, Yangon University of Foreign Language
3. Dr. Hnin Thant Sin Oo, Ms., University of Dental Medicine (Yangon)
4. Ms. Kyu Kyu Shein Moe, University of Information Technology (Yangon)

They were selected after passing a rigorous screening and final evaluation process. The screening was conducted by five officials from the Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) chaired by Professor Daw Si Si Shein, President of MAJA. The final four students were then selected by a five-member interview panel comprising four MAJA officials, including Professor Daw Si Si Shein, and a representative from Hitachi Asia Ltd. Myanmar Branch.

Established by Hitachi, Ltd. in 1996, HYLI has brought together some of the best and brightest students in Asia. The program was expanded to include Myanmar in the 13th HYLI in 2015. This second batch of Myanmar participants will be joining 28 other outstanding students from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

The main theme for this year’s HYLI is “Sustainable Urbanization through Collaborative Creation.” Urbanization is progressing rapidly in Southeast Asia. While urbanization is essential for the socio-economic growth and development of a country, it also gives rise to various challenges such as inadequate infrastructure support and environmental issues. Discussions at the 14th HYLI will therefore center on the three sub-themes:

1. The value of smart cities for Southeast Asia
2. Sustainable urban transportation
3. Environmentally sustainable cities

Mr. Masaaki Otake, General Manager of Hitachi Asia Ltd. Myanmar Branch said, “ASEAN cities need to prepare their next generation of leaders to better cope with the urbanization trend, and HYLI provides the platform for both current and next generation leaders to come together to resolve these urbanization issues. We look forward to the active discussions by our Myanmar student participants in laying the foundation to shape a brighter and more sustainable future for Myanmar and the region.”

Myanmar is well-recognized as an emerging market with high growth potential, and is one of the important focus markets for Hitachi’s business in this region. Hitachi is committed to support Myanmar’s vision of becoming a modern, developed nation by 2030, by improving education and social infrastructure in the country. In addition to HYLI, the Hitachi Myanmar Laboratory established at the University of Information Technology, Yangon (UIT) and scholarship programs have benefitted many Myanmar students. Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business is also improving local infrastructure such as railway and ICT. Hitachi will continue to work closely with key stakeholders in both the private and public sectors through collaborative creation for the country’s development.