During June and July, Mitsui & Co. hosted 14 Australian university students for two weeks at Tokyo headquarters as its latest contribution to the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP).

The students included six from Queensland University of Technology and six from Deakin University under NCP’s Mobility Program, and one NCP Scholar from Queensland University of Technology and University of New South Wales.

The students learnt about Mitsui’s history, business, and relationships with Australia. They also made visits to the Toyota factory; Nippon Steel Sumitomo Metals steel mill; and the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. And at the end of their stay, the students showcased their new knowledge by delivering presentations to Mitsui executives.

One participant said: “I thought that I wouldn't be able to learn that much in two weeks. But how wrong I was! I learnt more than I could ever imagine – not only about Mitsui as a company, but also about Japanese culture, global perspectives on trade and business, and also more about myself and what I want to do for my future career.”

The NCP aims to make Australia’s young people Asia-literate – lifting their knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region.

Armed with 46 years of experience sending over 360 students on its own Mitsui Educational Foundation study tour to Japan, Mitsui & Co. (Australia) was the first non-Australian company to support the NCP.