Marubeni Corporation is one of Japan's leading sogo shosha (general trading conglomerates). Through its long, almost 150 years history (founded in 1858) Marubeni's operations have become highly diversified and continue to expand into new areas. The company is engaged in domestic and international financing and investment, and in the trading of a wide array of commodities and merchandise as well as technology and services through its global network comprising 124 overseas offices in 73 countries and 523 affiliated companies over the world.

It has 11 business divisions: Agri-Marine Products, Textiles, Forest Products & General Merchandise, Chemicals, Energy, Metals & Mineral Resources, Transportation Machinery, Industrial Machinery & Information Business, Plant, Power & Infrastructure Projects, Development & Construction, and Finance & Logistics. The company's total transaction volume in fiscal 2003, ended March 31, 2004 was US$75billion.

In today's world, traditional norms, values and order are changing with unprecedented speed and on a scale never before imagined. In the middle is Marubeni's globe-spanning network with a vast number of people demanding products and services that deliver real value. Amid the ongoing shift to global standards and far-reaching changes in telecommunications, Marubeni is opening new business frontiers that touch the lives of people everywhere.

Marubeni considers China a high priority market and has played a leading role in promoting trade and business operations in China. In response to China's open door and economic reform policies of 1978, Marubeni has been expanding its operational scope and accumulating business expertise in China. Marubeni now operates out of 16 business bases in China's major cities and has invested about US$600million in over 140 local companies. Marubeni Group's total volume of transaction related to China was US$6 billion in fiscal 2003. One of Marubeni's goals is to develop business in the rapidly growing Chinese market that plays to our strengths and that demonstrate our underlying expertise.

The core principles of the Marubeni Group are encapsulated in our corporate creed of "Fairness-Innovation-Harmony," and in our company doctrine, which states that we "aim to contribute proudly to the economy and society through fair and upright corporate activities." In 1998 we formulated the Marubeni Corporate Principles, which commit us to balance the pursuit of profit with ethical concerns in all Marubeni Group operations.

Editor: Donald