Human Resource Development Supporting the “Seeking of New Opportunities”

Basic Structure of Human Resource Development

Human resources are what support the stable, ongoing growth of ITOCHU Corporation.
Our human resource development activities are available to employees throughout the Group, both domestically and in overseas blocs. Based on each employee’s work experience and abilities, we strive to help them develop into professionals who play an active role in their business field and to provide them with the skills necessary to manage business on a global level.
Through individual evaluations and feedback, centered on valuable job experience via on-the-job training (OJT), we help to cultivate the motivation and willingness of employees to increase their career opportunities within the Group. To further support employees’ self-development, we not only provide skills and knowledge through training but also actively support career development. We will continue to invest substantially in our human resources, while at the same time promoting human resources development which is proactively led by the front-lines.

A Variety of Training Schemes

Global development program

ITOCHU conducts a variety of training schemes that include essential training by position and job class, as well as select and elective training. We have a wide range of programs for the development of global management human resources, including global development programs and workshops for managers. In 1999, we instituted a system for sending new employees overseas as a means of fostering English proficiency and an international perspective in young employees. In 2010, we launched a new program designed to dispatch junior staff to China and other emerging markets for overseas training in Chinese and other languages. Our plan is to develop candidates who will become specialists in each target market in the future.
We also offer a wide range of training for specific objectives, such as “Career vision support training” and distinctive training based on the human resource strategies of each Division Company and Headquarters’ administrative division, with the aim of developing industry professionals of each business field with diverse values.

Human resources development policy and training details (excerpt)

Overview of human resources development system	Training program name (excerpt)
Development of global management talent	Global development programs (GEP, GLP, GNP*), organization manager workshops, pre-manager training, sending employees to short-term business school programs
Business leader development	Sending of new employees overseas, dispatch of junior staff overseas to learn Chinese and other languages
Development of industry professionals and diverse human resources	Career vision support training, distinctive training for each Division Company, Headquarters' administrative division

Number of employees participated in major training programs

Training program name	FY2012 Results
Global development program	97
Organization manager workshops	411
Sending of employees to short-term business school programs overseas	32
Junior staff overseas training for English and Junior staff overseas training for multi-language	86
Career vision support training	3,035

* Global Executive Program (GEP): This core part of the global talent development program provides training to cultivate global executives.
* Global Leadership Program (GLP): The purpose of this training is to cultivate organization managers who can be active in global business.
* Global Network Program (GNP): Through training held at Headquarters, this program enables locally-hired overseas staff to learn firsthand about the ITOCHU Group’s global operations and build up a network with other participants.

Comments by Training Participants

Akiko YoshidaCorporate IT Architecture Department
IT Planning Division

Junior staff overseas training for English

I spent four months in Idaho, USA. In coming into contact with many people from different cultures and backgrounds, I felt and learned the importance of understanding, respecting, and accepting each other’s differences. This experience renewed my determination to expand the realm of my undertakings to the entire world.
I am grateful to have been blessed with this wonderful opportunity.

Ken KoderaFiber Intermediates Section No.1
Organic Chemicals Department No.1

Junior staff overseas training for multi-language

I spent half a year in Dalian, a city in Liaoning Province, China, and learned Chinese.
In the morning, I took classes at university, and in the afternoon, I went to a language school for a one-on-one lesson. I was completely immersed in Chinese throughout each of my days in China.

Besides learning their language, I became intimately acquainted with Chinese way of thinking and culture.
In Chun Jie (Chinese New Year), I was invited to a Chinese friend’s home, and drank white liquor surrounded by his entire family and relatives. We cooked dumplings and set off firecrackers at the moment of the New Year. That was one of the memorable experiences that taught me what it is to be in China.
Since returning to Japan, I have found that my experience in China is helping my business especially in negotiations with Chinese clients, although there are still plenty of challenges.
Learning the Chinese language enabled me to feel the momentum of the great country more deeply. I am very grateful to have experienced this opportunity while I was still young.

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