CEO of Mitsui & Co. (Australia), Mr Noboru Katsu recently joined with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Marise Payne to celebrate five years of the New Colombo Plan’s (NCP) support of thousands of young Australians to study and work overseas.

Since 2014, the NCP has awarded around 50,000 scholarships and mobility grants to Australian undergraduates to study, learn a language and undertake work experience across the Indo-Pacific.

A total of 50,000 scholarships have been awarded, sending students to 40 locations to create links and learn about cultures overseas.

Mr Katsu said Mitsui is very passionate about the benefits of cross cultural engagement and praised the work that the NCP is doing to build Australia’s networks across the Indo-Pacific region.

“Given Australia’s commitment to regional stability, prosperity, development, and democratic governance the New Colombo Plan is an ideal vehicle for deepening Australia's relationships in the region, both at the individual level and through expanding university, business and other links,” Mr Katsu said.

Mitsui & Co. (Australia) has been a committed sponsor of the New Colombo Plan since its launch in 2014.

Mitsui’s support to the NCP continues a tradition of seeking to build stronger ties and promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Australia. The Mitsui Educational Foundation (MEF) was founded in 1971 to introduce Australian students to Japanese culture, history, business, industry, and contemporary lifestyles through an annual tour of Japan and has supported more than 360 Australian students to visit Japan.