TYT Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan was invited to deliver a short message at the UNIDO-AEON Signing Ceremony which took place at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo on 3 June 2013. The Ceremony was held to mark the formalizing of the joint partnership between the AEON Corp of Japan and UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with AEON Malaysia and several Malaysian suppliers on the Sustainable Suppliers Development Programme (SSDP) in Malaysia.
In his short remarks, TYT Datuk among others expressed gratitude to both UNIDO and AEON Japan for its collaborative efforts that aims to increase safe and sustainable sourcing, and business linkages between AEON and its suppliers in Malaysia. He also reaffirmed the conviction of the Government of Malaysia that the initiative would benefit not only Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises but also local communities where the suppliers operate, including farms as well as consumers at large. The Ambassador further highlighted that the program will subsequently bring about improvements and better productivity among Malaysian suppliers including the quality and food safety as well as sustainability in daily operations.
Following the short remarks by TYT Ambassador and the respective representatives of UNIDO and AEON, a joint declaration on the commitment of UNIDO and AEON on the SSDP Programme was signed by H.E. Mr. Motoya Okada, President and CEO of AEON Co. Ltd. and H.E. Mr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, the Director General of UNIDO. Executives from AEON Malaysia and Japan, high level officials from UNIDO and representatives of the Japanese government were also present at this event.
