From “Dialogue and Collaboration” to Action – A Message from the Group Chairman

The words shared by IMURA Group Chairman are not only a message for SLP, but also contain many meaningful and practical lessons that each of us can apply to our own lives.

From choosing to look at things from a positive perspective and changing our mindset to change our actions, to nurturing a positive mindset in our children and applying these ideas to our daily work — there is something for each of us to reflect on and take away.

Please take a little time to read, reflect, and look within yourself. Who knows, perhaps just one small change in the way we think, starting today, could lead to positive changes for ourselves, our families, and the people around us.

Let’s read, reflect, and discover what these words mean to each of us!

Below is the speech delivered by IMURA Group Chairman during his visit to SLP on September 8, 2026:

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Hello everyone at SLP. I am YUTAKA IMURA from IMURA in Japan.

I last visited SLP in February this year, so this is my first visit in six months. I had been looking forward to seeing everyone again. It has already been one and a half years since SLP and IMURA became one, and I am very pleased to see that SLP continues to grow despite the challenging circumstances.

There is no doubt that the economy of Southeast Asia is growing very rapidly. A great deal of money is being invested in Southeast Asia, and I believe that many people in the region are feeling that their standard of living is gradually improving. For example, in Asian countries, the penetration rate of mobile phones is increasing, allowing people to take care of various matters without having to travel. In terms of transportation as well, it has become quite normal to travel by bus or train, or even to go overseas by airplane. I can feel that people’s energy is increasing.

The situation in Asia today is very similar to the situation in Japan in the past. I am currently 63 years old, and 55 years ago, I was an elementary school student. It was a period when Japan’s economy was growing steadily and people’s incomes were continuously increasing. Even so, we could only take the train once or twice a month, and the only time we could take a taxi was when we went to the hospital. Even under those circumstances, we felt that life had become considerably more convenient.

However, overseas travel was still not something we could do. At home, we could eat bananas only three times a month, while melons, which were considered a luxury fruit, could only be eaten once a year. Even so, compared with the time when we were born, our standard of living had improved, and there was a time when we felt an extraordinary sense of happiness and joy in our lives.

As more time passed, mobile phones began to be sold in Japan around 1995. At that time, they cost approximately twice a person’s monthly salary, so ordinary people could not afford to buy them. However, around the year 2000, their prices dropped significantly, and they began to sell explosively. Today, almost everyone in Japan is able to own a mobile phone.

However, Japan’s current situation is one in which growth has stalled. The balance between supply and demand has become disrupted, causing the prices of goods to fluctuate significantly. Differences have emerged between companies that are making profits and those that are not. Furthermore, due to Japan’s declining birth rate, the working population has been decreasing significantly.

Based on the 50 years of history that I have witnessed in Japan, I believe that this may be the kind of situation that Southeast Asia will experience in the future.

Therefore, I believe that IMURA’s mission is to draw on the experiences we have had, show everyone a direction, bring together our wisdom, and lead SLP and all its employees onto an upward trajectory. I believe this is our most important responsibility. I hope that everyone will take our experiences as a reference and that we can grow significantly together.

Against this background, the other day, two members of IMURA’s training team conducted a training session for 13 managers. This was our first attempt at such a program at SLP.

The theme was “Dialogue and Collaboration,” and we conducted the program as an opportunity to encourage everyone to value communication and teamwork. The main purpose was not to teach difficult techniques, but rather to help everyone become aware of the importance of “communication” and “teamwork,” which they had previously taken for granted.

I would like everyone to make it a major goal to create an organizational culture where employees are connected with one another and to bring together the strength of all employees, so that we can contribute to our customers, Vietnamese society, and the people of Southeast Asia.

Simply remembering the words “Dialogue and Collaboration” is not enough. These words must lead to changes in your actions. Through those actions, we can bring joy to many people and create a cycle of happiness in which we appreciate others and are appreciated by others. This is your mission, and it is the value of our lives. I sincerely hope that you will never lose sight of this.

So, how do we change our actions?????

I believe this is the most difficult part. We have to change what is in our minds. In other words, I want you to think about changing your awareness. Change the way you think.

So, how can we do that…?

It is simple.

Starting today—or rather, starting right now—think positive thoughts. Make a conscious effort never to say negative things.

For example:

① Instead of saying, “I am tired from work,” say:
“I worked up a good sweat today.”
“Today’s work was fulfilling.”
“I will probably enjoy today’s meal even more.”

② Instead of saying, “My boss scolded me,” say:
“I learned something valuable.”
“I was able to grow.”
“I am grateful for the advice.”

In other words, try to look at everything from a positive perspective.

According to researchers in neuroscience, people have between 30,000 and 50,000 conversations in their heads every day. For example, when we wake up in the morning, we may think, “The weather is nice today,” “I want to sleep a little longer,” or “I have to go to work,” and so on.

Among these thoughts, many become negative conversations, such as, “I have to go to work again today. I don’t want to,” or “I don’t want to get out of bed.”

Always try to make these conversations in your head positive. Even if you have to lie to yourself, change them in a positive direction.

So, what happens when you do this????

First, your actions will gradually change, and people will begin to gather around you. Eventually, your luck will improve, you will achieve results, and you will find yourself enjoying things more. Life will become more enjoyable, and you will continue to grow.

Always think positively about things. Please give it a try. No—let’s start right now.

And the present moment exists only now. Let us live our one life without ever wasting it.

I sincerely hope that SLP will be the stage where we can put this into practice.

Thank you very much for your continued cooperation and support.