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YOKOHAMA announced today that, together with Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) Surat Thani*, it recently held a seminar event to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber. Fifty farmers from the Surat Thani area participated in the event, which was conducted with appropriate measures to prevent COVID-19 infections. All participants received a complimentary 250kg of fertilizer developed using RAOT’s specialist knowledge. The fertilizer contribution was warmly received and greatly appreciated by all participants. The seminar is the second of its kind, following the initial seminar held in 2020.

*A state enterprise under the jurisdiction of Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC)

In January 2020, YOKOHAMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the RAOT to cooperate in efforts to provide economic support and improve traceability to ensure transparency and soundness of the natural rubber supply chain. The MOU is a concrete action based on YOKOHAMA’s “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber.” The seminar event is the latest action to support natural rubber farmers under the MOU. Another action under the MOU is a program of onsite surveys that seeks to analyse the issues faced by natural rubber farmers in Surat Thani area, home to YOKOHAMA’s Thai natural rubber processing company Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC). The survey continues an effort started by YOKOHAMA and YTRC back in June 2019, and it is hoped that the farmers who received fertilizer at this event will cooperate in follow-up surveys on its effect on the physical properties and productivity of natural rubber.

A founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), YOKOHAMA revised its “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber" in September 2021 and is strengthening its collaboration with GPSNR activities. The recent seminar event in Thailand reflects the principle of "Support for suppliers, including small-scale farmers, and other parties involved in the supply chain" set forth in the Procurement Policy. We will continue to implement and announce initiatives in line with the action guidelines stipulated in this policy. The Group is also endeavouring to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations. As part of these efforts, the Group is promoting the procurement of sustainable raw materials, including natural rubber, by holding meetings to exchange information with natural rubber suppliers. In Thailand, where YTRC operates a natural rubber processing plant, the Yokohama Rubber Group has been conducting joint research with local universities aimed at improving the quality and productivity of natural rubber, while also promoting the widespread use of agroforestry to enable natural rubber farmers to secure more stable income.

The ESG initiatives included in Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023), YOKOHAMA’s medium-term management plan for fiscal years 2021–2023, are based on the concept of “Caring for the Future.” By implementing ESG initiatives under this concept, YOKOHAMA will be making an effort to help resolve social issues through its business activities.