President's Address at the Entrance Ceremony

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (President: Jotaro Tamura, Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo) welcomed 84 new employees (53 new graduates for land-based positions, 16 new graduates for sea-based positions, and 15 mid-career hires for land-based positions) as of April 1. We are pleased to announce President Jotaro Tamura's address at the entrance ceremony held on April 1, as follows.

Congratulations on joining the company.

I am very pleased to welcome all of you as new members of the MOL Group.

Today, I would first like to touch upon the current business environment. The situation in the Middle East is currently escalating, and the situation in the surrounding waters, including the Strait of Hormuz, is becoming increasingly uncertain. At our company, we prioritize the safety of our crew members and continue to monitor the latest developments and take necessary actions in close cooperation with relevant authorities and other stakeholders. Even in such unprecedented circumstances, it is our mission to continue fulfilling our responsibility as a company that supports social infrastructure.

Furthermore, today, April 1, marks our company's founding anniversary, and we celebrate our 142nd year. Throughout its long history, our company has faced numerous environmental changes, yet has overcome them and continued to grow. Moreover, today marks the start of Phase 2 of our group management plan, 'BLUE ACTION 2035.' The next five years will be a crucial period for the further growth of our group.

Our group is one of the world's largest shipping companies, operating approximately 940 vessels, and comprehensively manages a diverse range of ship types, including dry bulk carriers, chemical tankers, LNG carriers, car carriers, and container ships. In recent years, we have also been actively expanding our business beyond shipping into related fields. As we compete in the global market, our business is becoming increasingly diversified and sophisticated.

In this environment, we strongly hope that all of you will grow into individuals who possess a global perspective and can fully demonstrate your abilities. The MOL Group offers diverse fields such as sales, operations, procurement, finance, ship maintenance, and accounting, allowing you to build your career through experiences around the world.

In an era of rapid change, the challenges and growth of each individual become the very competitiveness of the company. We sincerely hope that all of you will maximize your potential and together, carve out the future of the MOL Group.