Exclusive Interview with
SCTL President & CEO Mr Yasushi Fukuda
“Both tolerance and strictness are necessary for a good leader.”
Mr Yasushi Fukuda
President & CEO
Sumitomo Corporation Thailand Ltd.
Under SHIFT2023, what have been your priorities for SCTL to achieve sustainable growth? Are there any new business fields that SCTL is exploring?
First of all, the important thing for us is to maintain the business base and good relationship with customers that SCTL has built for a long time. I believe that there are still new business opportunities to be found in the extension of our current business.
On the other hand, we cannot deny that there is a limit to SCTL’s growth if we stick to our traditional way of business. The environment surrounding us is also changing rapidly, so it is important for us to respond to these changes. We need to look for business opportunities in the various issues that Thailand will be facing in the near future (like environment and aging population etc.).
Particularly with regard to environmental issues, Thai government activates the BCG model for a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and is accelerating various initiatives with the keywords of “Bio, Circular and Green”. In addition, Thailand, which has a large concentration of automobile industry, has announced a policy to shift to electric vehicles, and we need to find business opportunities in this changing environment as well.
Change Maker Academy 2021, innovation programme in SCTL
In order to accelerate these efforts, I believe that we need a strong partner, and one of the candidates is PTT Public Co., Ltd., which is the largest Thailand based company engaged in the gas and oil petroleum business. PTT is actively diversifying its business, and we have recently signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with PTT and have begun to discuss whether we can collaborate in new business areas.
Loy Krathong night, Thai festival of lights, with SCTL colleagues
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) has topped the business agenda in the corporate world. How is SCTL addressing it?
For environmental issues, there are many themes such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, carbon pricing, hydrogen, energy-saving technologies and recycling etc., which we plan to target and work on intensively towards the achievement of carbon neutrality.
As for social, in the meantime, we are actively promoting CSR activities through the 100SEED project. With the aim of supporting and upgrading school education in local communities, we have launched three projects, “Bottom Up”, “Light Up” and “Power Up” targeting primary school students, their teachers and university students, and are promoting these activities with the support of SCTL volunteers.
In terms of Corporate Governance, same as SC headquarter, improving the efficiency of management and maintaining sound management are important issues. We hold Division GM meeting on monthly basis to share and discuss important management issues. In addition, Operation Improvement Committee (OIC) meeting is held regularly to monitor and improve key internal control points at operational level.
Previously you mentioned that you are open-minded and sociable. How do these traits help you in your career and personal life?
In my long career in the corporate world, the most important thing for me has been two-way communication. In order to build a relationship of mutual trust, I have tried to listen carefully to what the other person is talking about first and avoid one-sided conversation. It is very important to create an atmosphere where it is easy for the other person to feel free to talk with me.
Particularly in the overseas industrial park and logistics business that I was in charge of, I often had conversations with customers and partners outside the company, and I think that by gaining their trust through our good communication, I was able to maintain existing business and develop new business. I have always taken great care when dealing with external parties by responding sincerely to problems that arise with customers or partners, and never run away from any difficult situation. In my experience, I believe that this response has often led to further mutual trust among the parties involved.
Golf time at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand
(Floating island green on Hole #17)
Throwback memory – with my family and colleagues in the U.S.
(1997…long time ago)
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… miracles
I spend most of my time.. playing golf on weekends
The food I crave most often is… sushi and fresh seafood
One personal rule that I never break is… to hold birthday party for my family (wife, 3 children and 1 granddaughter)
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… my granddaughter (she is nearly 3 years old now)
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… private jet
If I could go back in time, I would… go back to the days when I lived in the United States since I was too busy to travel around the U.S. and the surrounding countries with my family then
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… like to take time to travel around the world
