Our Corporate Communications staff spend time getting to know Sumitomo Corporation's different business sites around the world, reporting on how the people at those sites work. We will keep you up to date with the world of Sumitomo Corporation, which extends to every corner of the globe.
Kenichi Hirao,
Strategic Planning Team, Corporate Communications Department
After experiencing marketing at the Automotive Division and Network Division, He was assigned to the Corporate Communications Department in April 2007. Currently He is in charge of the formulation of mid- to long-term corporate communications strategies, group and global communications, etc. He sometimes enjoy playing golf, while He is also into audio equipment.
Enforta B.V.
The largest wireless broadband service provider in Russia. It uses WiMAX, or the latest-of-the-art wireless data communication technology, offering easy access to broadband services to its users in areas without an established infrastructure, like ADSL or an optical network. Our company holds 33.3% of the company's shares.
Sumitec International
Established in 2001, the company is an agency dealing in construction and mining machinery produced by Komatsu Ltd. and a dealer handling forklifts manufactured by Toyota. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of our company. In addition to the head office in Moscow, which I visited, the subsidiary has about 10 branches and regional offices in Sankt Petersburg, Siberia (Krasnoyarsk), the Far East (Khabarovsk), and other areas throughout Russia.
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Forklifts stored in front of the Moscow head office
The construction machinery market is showing a rapid growth in Russia, due to the boom in building construction reflecting the economic development as well as expanded production of resources and energy. The import market, in particular, is showing outstanding growth. The company, which is an agency dealing in construction and mining machinery produced by Komatsu Ltd., and a dealer handling forklifts manufactured by Toyota are striving for the expansion of not only sales bases but also after-sale service, to cope with such an expansion of the market.
At the company, Mr. Shiratori, President, and Mr. Sugiura, Vice President, who are working at the company on assignment from our company, told me about their activities and showed me around the facilities in the head office. The first floor is used as a mini-store for Toyota products, and outside many forklifts are stored. At first sight, the scene may seem quite natural. However, it reminded me of the huge changes in trading companies’ business and really surprised me.
Mr. Shiratori (left) and Mr. Sugiura (right)
It was nearly 20 years ago that I joined Sumitomo Corporation. At that time, the mainstream of its business was exports and imports, or foreign trade. What about the scene in front of me at that very moment? It was predominantly local sales business, which was far from trade. Some employees are stationed in Moscow to take charge of the operation of the business corporation. It can be readily imagined that it was only after a great deal of trial and error in management and operation, and accumulation knowledge that the company became what it is today.
Group photo in the office
Before leaving the company, we took a group photo. Everyone got together in a friendly way. I was impressed also with the smiles of the staff members who cheerfully answered my request to "say cheese." I felt again that people in Russia were really friendly and sociable.
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