In February 2022, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited us to respond. The response is as follows:

We have been making efforts to contribute to the development of Myanmar economically and socially by developing diversified businesses through investments in social infrastructure.

We express concern about the continued lack of noticeable action to improve the situation in Myanmar though more than a year have passed since the coup. We hope to see a swift and peaceful resolution.

We have been pursuing ways to respect international human rights standard in accordance with the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s Human Rights Policy, including dialogues with stakeholders such as shareholders. With respect to the projects described in the letter, we are working on these projects with firm belief that the projects will contribute to improvement of the life of people of Myanmar. We will make decisions on future policy of the projects with considering the local situation. Besides, no dividends are paid from the Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development (MJTD) on Thilawa Special Economic Zone Development Project.

We would like to strive to act to mitigate human rights risks of people in Myanmar while we are monitoring closely the situation in the country and prioritizing the safety and security of our employees, their family members and related people.