The Japanese economy of 2012 showed a slow recovery with recovery demands from the Great East Japan Earthquake and others in the background, and we are beginning to see an indication towards business recovery such as yen depreciation and stock rising. However, the overseas economy still continues to be in a severe situation due to the European economic crisis, the Chinese business slow down and so on.

At this moment, the Hitachi Group is aiming at becoming one of the global major players, strengthening the global rollout of the Social Innovation Business. We select the most appropriate products and services from among Hitachi’s broad lineup, for the individual market environments of each region, and work closely with customers to build advanced social infrastructure systems.

The Hitachi Group moved over to a new management structure in April 2012, and was restructured into five groups. Our Hitachi Medical Group was positioned as a member of the “Infrastructure Systems Group” that provides strong support for the social infrastructure field, and is aiming to be the top player in the global healthcare market by chaging into the highly profitable business structure as well as working for the promotion of the global business more than ever.

The three companies - our company, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd. and Hitachi Medical Computer Systems, Inc. together - are trying to maximize the synergy effect to best utilize the advantages of the three individual companies such as business, products, quality, cost control, etc., for providing customers with high-quality products useful on the clinical front.

In addition, we are working on strengthening the global network which our group companies possess. 2012 became the year when we opened an office in Russia, formed a sales company for the Middle East in Egypt and started the production at the new plant in Suzhou, China, which drived intensely the global development among our group companies. Also in 2013 and onwards, we will work actively on strengthening the links among the existing global operations and the global development of important regions.

Through such actions our group companies will continue to provide healthcare solutions to solve various problems that annoy hospitals and doctors i.e. our customers, and will work vigorously on the challenge to create a new future, not an extension of the present, for sustainable development.

Furthermore, we will continue to intensify our work related to the corporate social responsibility such as compliance, environmental conservation and social contribution more than ever under corporate activities in line with “Basics and Ethics”.

Your continuing understanding and support will be very much appreciated. Thank you.