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JCN Newswire

Hitachi to Strengthen Business Structure to Accelerate Growth through Digital, Green, and Innovation

February 2, 2023

TOKYO, Feb 2, 2023 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) today announced that as part of efforts to achieve the goals of the Mid-term Management Plan 2024, it will strengthen the business structure, effective April 1, 2023, in order to accelerate the growth of the Social Innovation Business, with a focus on digital, green, and innovation.1. Strengthening the Digital Business StructureTo accelerate the digital transformation for both customers and the Hitachi Group, Hitachi will establish the Digital Engineering Business Unit (BU) by integrating consulting, design, and digital engineering capabilities worldwide, including GlobalLogic Inc. Jun Taniguchi, the CEO of Hitachi Digital LLC, will hold a concurrent position as CEO of the BU, and it will resolve issues for customers and society and create new value by accelerating Lumada's cycle of value co-creation along with the Hitachi Group's various business divisions, further expanding the Social Innovation Business. Shashank Samant, Chairman of GlobalLogic, and Gajen Kandiah, CEO of Hitachi Vantara LLC, will hold respective concurrent positions as Executive Chairman and President of Hitachi Digital, which leads digital strategies for the entire Hitachi Group. With the addition of these two leaders to CEO Taniguchi, Hitachi Digital will accelerate the growth of the digital businesses worldwide. The Services & Platforms BU will also be reorganized to form the Cloud Services Platforms BU. In the rapidly growing cloud business field, this BU will further strengthen data management and storage solutions, which are Hitachi Vantara's strengths, and will strive to strengthen the competitiveness of the global cloud service and data management businesses, by leveraging expertise in mission-critical systems and IT platforms.2. Expanding Green BusinessChief Sustainability Officer Lorena Dellagiovanna will be appointed Senior Vice President and Executive Officer to further accelerate sustainability for the Hitachi Group as a whole. Vice President and Executive Officer Tadashi Kume(1) will be appointed Executive General Manager of Global Environment Business Group, which will lead the green business, while Ayumu Morita will be appointed General Manager. Megumu Tsuda will be appointed General Manager of Internal Environment Initiatives Division, which will lead environmental activities within the Hitachi Group. Under leadership of Chief Sustainability Officer, they will contribute to promoting green strategies both inside and outside of the Hitachi Group.In the Railway Systems Business, Giuseppe Marino(2), who drove the PMI following Hitachi's acquisition of AnsaldoBreda S.p.A. & Ansaldo STS S.p.A. will be appointed CEO of the Railway Systems BU and will strive to make Hitachi a top global player in the railway systems business by acquiring Thales' Ground Transportation Systems Business and promoting PMI. Andrew Barr, currently CEO of the BU, will be appointed Executive Officer in charge of Regional Strategies [EMEA] and President of Hitachi Europe Ltd., leading the regional strategies in EMEA including the green business. Meanwhile, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer Alistair Dormer will lead the Green Energy & Mobility Sector, which is at the core of the green business, furtherexpanding Hitachi's contributions to the environment through business on a global scale. 3. Accelerating the Creation and Promotion of InnovationsItaru Nishizawa will be appointed CTO, and General Manager of Research & Development Group, working alongside Masakatsu Mori, who will be appointed General Manager of Innovation Growth Strategy Division in leading the creation of innovations. Both have an extensive track record of research in the digital field, and will play a central role in supporting the future growth of the Hitachi Group by applying Web 3.0, the metaverse, and other cutting- edge technologies in the Lumada business and creating innovations in fields such as quantum computing, design cell, and hydrogen by backcasting from 2050.Business Structure as of April 1, 2023BU: Business Unit EVP: Executive Vice President SVP: Senior Vice President VP: Vice PresidentHitachi sees Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as sources of innovation and engines that drive global growth. It assigns diverse talents to positions where they are able to make use of their unique knowledge and experiences, and to fully demonstrate their capabilities. With Lorena Dellagiovanna and Giuseppe Marino being appointed Senior Vice President and Executive Officer, and Chie Mashima being appointed Vice President and Executive Officer, as of April 2023, there will be a total of six female and non-Japanese executive officers, a record number for Hitachi. By actively appointing diverse talent, Hitachi will strive for further growth on a global scale.(1) Will be appointed Chief Quality Officer & Chief Manufacturing Strategy Officer(2) Currently serves as CEO of Ansaldo Energia S.p.A., outside of the Hitachi GroupAbout Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com. Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Olympus Announces Leadership Succession Plan

October 21, 2022

TOKYO, Oct 21, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global medtech company committed to making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, today announced that Stefan Kaufmann, the current Director, Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, has been tentatively appointed Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO of the company effective April 1, 2023. Yasuo Takeuchi, the current Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO will serve as Director, Representative Executive Officer, Chairman, and ESG Officer. These changes are scheduled to be formally decided by the Board of Directors at the end of March 2023.Stefan Kaufmann tentatively appointed new Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO as the global medtech leader prepares for the company's next stage of growthThe leadership transition is intended to strengthen the company's management foundation as Olympus executes its value-creation plan. Takeuchi has led Olympus' recent transformation journey to become a leading global medtech company. Moving forward, Kaufmann will lead the company's resources to elevate the standard of care in targeted diseases and pursue Our Purpose of "making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling" and accelerate its growth.Yasuo Takeuchi: Celebrated Architect of ChangeTakeuchi's four-year tenure at the helm of Olympus saw the most extensive corporate reorganization in the company's storied 103-year history. An Olympus veteran with more than four decades of experience with the company, Takeuchi oversaw the transfer of the company's imaging and scientific solutions businesses and its renewed focus on medtech, with the introduction of a myriad of operational changes and structural reforms bringing improvements in efficiency, innovation, and customer care.Key achievements include changing the governance structure into a nomination committee structure. This has resulted in an executive management structure consisting of fewer people, which has streamlined the internal decision-making process. Additionally, global governance structure has been strengthened by increasing management agility and enhancing diversity of Board of Directors. Takeuchi has expanded the global research and development network and has comprehensively managed the business on a global scale. He also spearheaded the company's global business development through acquisitions and early-stage investments to stimulate next-generation innovation.Despite the volatility of the global economic environment in recent years, Olympus has achieved strong financial results and managed to reach committed targets, and is on track to achieving over 20% consolidated corporate operating margin.Takeuchi stated: "It has been a privilege to lead Olympus through a historic moment for the company. With the completion of the groundwork of transformation in the first three years since the corporate strategy was announced in 2019, we can now shift to the next phase to accelerate growth and improve performance. I have full confidence that Stefan will continue this momentum. He has been instrumental in implementing the Transform Olympus initiatives and in shaping the future direction of the company to expand our contribution to global healthcare and address unmet needs with gastrointestinal, urological, and respiratory care solutions. After more than 15 years of working closely with Stefan, I look forward to continuing our partnership and to supporting him as he leads Olympus to the next level of growth and organizational efficiency."Stefan Kaufmann: Enduring Focus on Growth and ImpactAn Olympus veteran with two decades of experience in senior roles, Kaufmann has a background in human resources and a strong track record in driving transformational change for Olympus in the complex Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.Kaufmann most recently served concurrently as Olympus' Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer, with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Transform Olympus program."I am honored and humbled at the opportunity to serve as the next Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO of Olympus," Kaufmann said. "After years of very successful transformation, we see further opportunities to advance our global operations and processes with a strong focus on elevating the standard of care to benefit our customers and patients. Looking three-to-five years ahead, our key themes will be innovation, research, and development and inorganic growth, competitive performance, talent development, and sustainability."From April 2023, Kaufmann will drive the continued expansion of Olympus in the medtech field and prioritize business excellence as the company adapts to changing clinical needs and stricter ESG requirements.Olympus will retain its strong customer orientation under Kaufmann and will continue to increase innovation cycles through in-house research, acquisitions, investment, and co-creation with industry partners. One of his priorities is the development of the quality and regulatory function toward further maturity, which is critical in the medical industry. He will also focus on evolving the work culture and developing the talent base in both Japan and globally.Newly Appointed Executive OfficersThe composition of the Group Executive Committee (GEC) will be changed following the leadership transition. The roles of Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Operations Officer will be dissolved, while the business leadership of ESD and TSD, Chief Quality Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, as well as the Chief Strategy Officer will join the GEC, bringing a greater diversity of views and industry best practices.About Olympus Olympus is passionate about creating customer-driven solutions for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping to detect, prevent, and treat disease; furthering scientific research; and ensuring public safety. In its Endoscopic Solutions business, Olympus uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance the quality of life for patients. Starting with the world's first gastrocamera in 1950, Olympus' Endoscopic Solutions portfolio has grown to include endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as customer solutions and medical services. For more information, visit www.olympus-global.com and follow our global Twitter account: @Olympus_Corp.ContactNao Tsukamoto - Global-Public_Relations@olympus.comOlympus Corp. [TYO: 7733] [ADR: OCPNY] [GDR: OLYS], https://www.olympus-global.com. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Digital Transformation in a Hybrid Workplace to be addressed by digital leaders at the #DXLeadersPH2022

August 15, 2022

MANILA, Aug 15, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The 2nd Philippines edition of DX Leaders Strategy Forum is gearing up with the goal of constructing a future-proof hybrid work for organisations in the Philippines. The strategy forum is taking place on 24-25 August 2022 in Manila.As more employees prefer a work-from-anywhere model rather than traditional office setup, the government and organisations are looking for an action plan to seamlessly adapt and mitigate the risks and become resilient to possible threats. Over 150+ digital leaders and technology experts are invited to gather and confer about the recent topics on big data and analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and mobility. There are also industry-focused roundtable sessions. This year's roster of speakers includes:1. Sec. Ivan John E. Uy, Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology2. Chito Jacinto Board Member, ISACA Manila Chapter, Vice President, ISOG and Former Chief Information Security Officer, RCBC3. Rey Lugtu, Chief Executive Officer, The Hungry Workhorse4. Francisco Castillo, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Maynilad Water Services, Inc.5. Alex Ustaris, Chief Information Officer, PHINMA Education Holdings, Inc.,6. Mel Migrino, Vice President and Group Chief Information Security Officer, Meralco7. Lito Villanueva, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation & Inclusion Officer RCBC8. Paul John Pena, Head of Strategy, Insights and Data Analytics, McDonald's Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation)9. Dennis Crimen, ICT Head, Philippines AirAsia10. Jason Brasileno, Vice President - Head for Business and Enterprise Risk, Lazada11. Kelsey Hartigan Go, Vice President, Information Technology, SM Prime Holdings, Inc.12. Rocky Bacani, First Vice President and CITO, Meralco, CIO at CIS Bayad Center Inc. and CTA, Radius Telecoms Inc.13. Lauro Matias, Chief Information Officer, EEI Corporation14. Wilbertus Darmadi, Chief Information Officer, Toyota Astra Motor15. Paul Siy , Chief Technology Officer and Head of Infrastructure and Operations, BDO Unibank16. Scott Darrow, Chief Technology Officer, UBX17. Gemma Rose Dublan, Chief Information Officer, Cyber Security Philippines CERT18. Melvin Foong, Chief Information Officer, GDEX Bhd19. Clinton Marsh, Chief Technology Officer, KMC Solutions20. Edmund Situmorang, Chief Technology Officer, PT. Asian Bulk Logistics21. Marlon Sorongon, Chief Information Security Officer, Maybank Philippines | Maybank NY22. Charlie Valerio, Chief Digital Officer, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.23. Sonny Supriyadi, Senior Vice President Head, Pricing and Data Analytics, Maybank Indonesia24. Maria Belinda San Jose, Vice President - Information Technology Group, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.25. Adrienne Heinrich, AI CoE Head, Vice President AI, UnionBank of the Philippines AI and Innovation Center of Excellence, Head Data Science and AI Group, Union Bank of the Philippines, AI and Innovation Center of Excellence Head, Aboitiz Data Innovation26. Marlon Umali Senior Assistant Vice President, IT Security, Security Bank Corporation27. Nick Servino, AVP for Digital and Data Systems, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation28. Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa, IS Officer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and Bn Commander of 7th Signal Battalion, Army Signal Regiment, Philippine Army29. Robert Sanchez Paguia, Division Chief, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center30. Ricson Singson Que, Information Security Consultant, Digital Technology Office, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and President and CEO of SQrity ConsultingSupporting the 2-day hybrid strategy forum are leading digital solution and technology companies - Boomi, Minfy & AWS, Aruba, Cloudflare, Freshworks, ESET, Logitech, IBM & Workcentric, Seagate & ITSDI, and Symphony Summit. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

ASEAN’s most influential fintech event – WFIS, now ready to disrupt Philippines’ FSI market

July 5, 2022

MANILA, Jul 5, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The launch of 'Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023' by the Central bank of the Philippines (BSP) has been driving major fintech investments in the country. To give an estimate, the first half of 2021 witnessed a total funding of $342 million garnered by the country's fintech firms, more than double of what was raised throughout 2020.To provide a common networking and intelligence sharing platform to Philippines' burgeoning FSI community, Tradepass is hosting World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS) for the first time in the Philippines at Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila on 16-17 August 2022. The event will attract 600+ technology and business heads from the leading Banks, Insurance & Micro-Finance institutions across the Philippines.In a statement issued, following her participation announcement as a speaker, Dr. Adrienne Heinrich (Vice President & Head of AI Center of Excellence, Union Bank of the Philippines) explained the pivotal nature of AI in her organisation, "AI is a major driver of the Aboitiz Group's Great Transformation into being the Philippines' first techglomerate. At Union Bank of the Philippines, an Aboitiz-led universal bank, we leverage technologies like AI to deliver innovative models and solutions allowing us to provide tailor-fit recommendations on products and services that truly address our customers' needs. AI also enables us to unlock new potential and opportunities across industries in the Group including banking and financial services, power, manufacturing, and beyond."WFIS 2022 - Philippines, will host the top 30+ thought leaders and experts from the industry who will shed light on the most pressing FSI topics focused on the latest tech innovations. The two-day event will also feature live showcase of the best FSI solutions from the leading organizations and a lot more.One of the confirmed speakers, Lito Villanueva (Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation & Inclusion Officer, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) while taking about the event expressed, "The bridge between the now and the future can only be built by disrupting the current conversation on technology and finance. These conversations spark limitless collaboration between leaders and trailblazers that create boundless innovation. The event is an opportunity to create not only innovation and disruption, but 'disrup-innovation'."Roy Joseph Roberto (Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Digital Transformation, Citibank Philippines) while appreciating the WFIS platform to address crucial CX challenges mentioned, "CX has now become the key differentiator while choosing a financial service platform. Realizing its inseparable nature with data science and AI, the financial services industry is gearing up with bigger investments in AI-enabled solutions. In that regard, World Financial Innovation Series serves as an ideal avenue for business and tech leaders to address the most pressing CX challenges and share how disruptive tech like AI can help bridge these gaps and transform DCX as we know it."Organizer and CEO of Tradepass, Sudhir Jena, expressed, "With the Philippines witnessing record high investments in fintech and the Filipinos becoming more and more savvy with digitization, WFIS 2022 - Philippines will be the perfect opportunity for the fintech providers to collaborate with the traditional financial institutions and other seeking organizations that want to incorporate fintech into their core infrastructure."Some of the confirmed speakers from the event include: DR. ADRIENNE HEINRICH, Vice President and Head of AI Center of Excellence, Union Bank of the Philippines; DHARMESH PATEL, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, East West Bank; LITO VILLANUEVA, EVP and Chief Innovation & Inclusion Officer, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation; RONALDO BATISAN, Vice President - Customer Experience, Union Bank of the Philippines; ARIVUVEL RAMU, Group Chief Technology Officer, Tonik (Digital Bank); CARLOS TENGKIAT, Chief Information Security Officer, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation and many others.About Tradepass:Providing access to the global emerging markets, Tradepass brings together people, products and solutions to power events for unparalleled business and networking opportunities. Being the most accredited event company, it helps organizations: enter new markets, grow sales pipeline, close prospects, raise capital and identify the right solution-providers. As a deal facilitator, Tradepass is always determined about exposing the most agile liquid growth markets, to enable all-round scalability and growth.For more information about the event, log on to:https://philippines.worldfis.com/Media contact:Riya JPR & Communication Lead, Tradepassriyaj@tradepassglobal.com+(91) 80 6166 4401Mohammed RaiyanTradepass Global+91 79964 11687 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Indonesian peace mission on Russia-Ukraine conflict

July 4, 2022

JAKARTA, Jul 3, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - President Joko Widodo has accomplished his visits to Ukraine and Russia on Thursday evening (June 30) to invite both countries to build dialogue, stop the war, and build peace.President Joko Widodo has visited Kyiv, Ukraine, for a peace mission. (Laily Rachev - Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden)President started his mission by visiting Kiev, Ukraine. At the Maryinsky Palace, Kyiv, Jokowi was greeted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday afternoon (June 29).For Ukraine, that day was a historic day, as President Jokowi's visit was the first one to be made by an Asian leader since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Jokowi, during a joint press statement with Zelenskyy, conveyed several important points from his visit to Ukraine."I conveyed to President Zelenskyy that I made this visit as a manifestation of Indonesia's concern for the situation in Ukraine," he remarked.He reiterated the invitation to Zelenskyy to attend the G20 Summit in November 2022 in Bali.Jokowi also emphasized Indonesia's principled position regarding the importance of respect for sovereignty and territory."Although it is still very difficult to achieve, I still convey the importance of a peaceful settlement, and the spirit of peace must never fade," he affirmed.Indonesia will strive to contribute through assistance, including medicines, and remain committed to reconstructing one of the hospitals around Kiev.To this end, President Jokowi offered to carry a message from President Zelenskyy to President Putin.On the other hand, President Zelenskyy praised Jokowi's visit because Indonesia hosts the G20 Presidency this year and is the strongest country in ASEAN.Zelenskyy expressed optimism that it would strengthen the effort to end the war.After visiting Kiev, President Jokowi also made a visit to Moscow, Russia and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.During the visit, Jokowi emphasized the issue of peace and humanity has always been a priority for Indonesia."The Indonesian Constitution mandates Indonesia to always try to contribute to the creation of world peace. In this context, I made visits to Kiev and Moscow," he stated.He also emphasized that food and fertilizers were humanitarian issues and were of interest to the world community. Thus hundreds of millions of people affected by disruptions, especially in developing countries.Hence, Jokowi lauded Putin's guarantee for the security of food and fertilizer supplies.Jokowi stressed that Indonesia has no interest apart from helping resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine."I invite all world leaders to work together to revive the spirit of multilateralism, the spirit of peace, and the spirit of cooperation," President Jokowi stated.Meanwhile, Putin noted that Indonesia is one of their key partners in the Asia-Pacific region."Russian-Indonesian relations are constructive and mutually beneficial, developing steadily on the basis of long-standing good traditions of friendship and mutual assistance," he said.During the joint press conference, President Jokowi reiterates the importance of the spirit of peace.With President Jokowi's visit to Ukraine and Russia for a peaceful mission, hopes are pinned high on the war ending soon and the food crisis being mitigated quickly.Written by: Katriana, Editor: Rahmad Nasution (c) ANTARA 2022 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Indonesian calls, messages at G7 Summit

June 30, 2022

JAKARTA, Jun 30, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has arrived at the venue of the 48th G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau, Germany on Monday afternoon (June 27) local time (UTC+1) to attend the meeting in the capacity of a partner country and as the G20 President.Indonesian President Joko Widodo in conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and United States President Joe Biden while attending the G7 Summit in Elmau, Germany, Monday, June 27, 2022. ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev/aa/ak. (Handout of Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat/Laily R)The G7 is an informal forum bringing together leaders of the world's leading industrial nations from the European Union and countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Jokowi was welcomed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.During the official welcoming session by the chancellor, Jokowi was present with the leaders of G7 partner countries, including Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Senegalese President Macky Sall, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.Furthermore, during the photo session, he posed for a picture accompanied by the German chancellor and United States President Joe Biden.All heads of government attended two sessions of the G7 meeting.President Jokowi invited G7 countries to contribute to capitalizing on investment opportunities in the clean energy sector in Indonesia.President Jokowi conveyed the statement while attending the G7 Summit working lunch session based on the topics of climate change, energy, and health in Elmau, Germany, Monday (June 27)."(This is) especially (regarding) investment opportunities in the clean energy sector in Indonesia, including the development of an electric car and lithium battery ecosystem," the president stated.According to President Jokowi, Indonesia's potential, as a contributor to clean energy, whether in the bowels of the earth, on land, or at sea, is very large. Indonesia needs large investments and low-carbon technologies to support a fast and effective transition to clean energy."Indonesia needs at least US$25-30 billion for energy transition in the next eight years. We can optimize this transition as a motor of economic growth, open up business opportunities, and create new jobs," President Jokowi stated.Furthermore, the president noted that in Indonesia as well as in other developing countries, the risk of climate change is very real, especially since it is an archipelagic country, with 17 thousand islands. The risks are not only detrimental to health but also put farmers and fishermen in trouble."We really hope for the support of all G7 countries in the Indonesian Presidency at the G20. See you in Bali. Thank you," the president stated.During session II of the G7 summit on the topics of food security and gender equality, President Jokowi called on G7 and G20 countries to jointly overcome the food crisis that currently threatens people in developing countries to fall into extreme hunger and poverty."(Some) 323 million people in 2022, according to the World Food Programme, are at risk of facing acute food insecurity. The G7 and G20 have a big responsibility to overcome this food crisis. Let us fulfill our responsibilities now and from now on," President Jokowi affirmed.According to the president, food is the most basic human rights issue. Indubitably, women from poor families suffer the most from food shortages for their children and families."We must act quickly to find a concrete solution. Food production must be increased. The global food and fertilizer supply chain must return to normal," the president stated.In his speech, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of G7 countries' support for the reintegration of Ukraine's wheat exports and Russia's exports of food and fertilizer commodities in global supply chains.There are two ways to realize this, with the first being the facilitation of Ukraine's grain exports that can begin immediately.According to the president, the second approach is proactive communication with the public worldwide that food and fertilizer commodities from Russia are not subject to sanctions."This intensive communication is very necessary, so that there is no prolonged doubt in the (minds of the) international public. This intensive communication also needs to be strengthened with communication with related parties, such as banks, insurance, shipping, and others," the president explained.President Jokowi had paid significant attention to the impact of the war on food and fertilizer supply chains."(This is) especially for fertilizers, because if we fail to handle it, then a rice crisis involving two billion people, especially in developing countries, can occur," the president cautioned.At the end of his remarks, the president again called for the importance of the G7 and G20 countries to jointly overcome this food crisis while also inviting G7 leaders to attend the G20 Summit in Bali."I am waiting for the G7 leaders to attend the G20 summit. See you in Bali, on November 15-16, 2022," President Jokowi stated.Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi noted that the president held about nine bilateral meetings with: the Prime Minister of India; French President; Prime Minister of Canada; Chancellor of Germany; British Prime Minister; Prime Minister of Japan; President of the European Commission; President of the Council of Europe; and the Managing Director of the IMF.During the bilateral meetings, besides inviting other countries to solve the problems of the food supply chain, president Jokowi also highlighted the preparations for the G20 Summit."In these meetings, we can clearly see that support for the Indonesian Presidency is still very strong," Marsudi noted.In 2022, Germany takes over the G7 Presidency and hosts the 48th G7 summit held on June 26-28, 2022, in Schloss Elmau.The G7, originally G8, was set up in 1975.The annual G7 summits have, over the years, developed into a platform for determining the course of multilateral discourse and shaping political responses to global challenges.Written by: Azis Kurmala, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)