Mr Hirumo Kunugihara, Asst. Managing Director Matsushita
Mr Fuyuki Seki, Managing Director - Matsushita Human Resource Development Centre
Distinguished guests
Graduands of the MIM - Matsushita Junior Management Development Programme
Ladies and Gentlemen
A very Good Morning to you. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Malaysian Institute of Management, to thank you for inviting the Institute to be a part of this joyous occasion.
As the nation moves towards k-economy, knowledge and skills are becoming increasingly important. It is necessary for individuals to be prepared in this era of knowledge-based economy. People are the key resource in any organisation and especially during times of uncertainty such as these, it is effective people management that can differentiate an organisation from the industry norm. To prepare
for sustainable growth, organisations must identify, prepare and develop key people to be competent and better prepared to meet the competition and seek opportunity for growth.
The MIM - Matsushita Junior Management Development Programme was designed to equip Matsushita supervisors with basic management knowledge, improve their management skills, provide them with techniques for leadership development, and encourage a higher level of individual responsibility and accountability. The graduands having undergone 119 hours of classroom sessions, I am sure, would agree with
me that the programme has met these objectives well.
In an article published in StarBiz on 9 October 2003, YBhg Datuk Yukio Shohtoku, the Executive Vice President of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, announced plans to put the company on a better footing internationally by the end of March next year. There is an old saying that goes like this, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." I trust that the programme has provided
that crucial first step in equipping employees of Matsushita to contribute towards the realisation of the above vision.
On that note, I would like to congratulate you, the graduands for successfully completing the vigorous 9-month programme, foregoing your weekends all in the name of progress, development and the well-being of people. Your diligence and success, I am sure, would do the late Mr Konosuke Matsushita proud.
I would like to record our greatest appreciation to Matsushita Electronic Components (M) Sdn Bhd and Matsushita Electronic Devices (M) Sdn Bhd for giving MIM this opportunity to collaborate on this Junior Management Development Programme. And we look forward to further collaborations in the near future.
With that, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you every success in your future undertakings and I shall end this address by saying, "CONGRATULATIONS!"
Thank you.
