Happy New Year to everyone. Amid the many developments unfolding around the world, I am grateful that we can welcome the new year with a fresh sense of purpose and optimism.
We are living in a period defined by uncertainty, and last year was no exception. The introduction of U.S. tariff measures and the intensification of geopolitical risks added further complexity to the global landscape and became significant sources of instability for the world economy. In Japan as well, it was a year in which stability and the search for change intersected in meaningful ways.
Despite this challenging environment, the EBARA Group's performance has remained strong, and we are expecting to achieve record-high results for the full fiscal year.
Furthermore, it was a year in which each of our organizations took on various challenges and achieved significant results. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of our employees and stakeholders.
Since its founding, the EBARA Group has delivered value to society by addressing social issues in various areas essential to daily life, from water, air, and energy to waste treatment, resource circulation, disaster prevention, irrigation, and semiconductor manufacturing.
We are uniquely positioned to contribute to the creation of a sustainable world through the strengths that have long set us apart: our expertise in fluid technology and thermal management. These capabilities enable us to play a meaningful role in solving the issues that will shape the future of society.
This year marks the start of our new medium-term management plan, E-Plan 2028. We will also update our long-term vision, E-Vision 2030, and articulate the company we aspire to be in ten years: a global, excellent company that is essential to the realization of a sustainable society. Alongside this new vision, we will outline the strategic direction that will guide us toward its realization.
In 2026, we intend to take a strong first step towards realizing that vision. Let us continue to make steady progress with discipline and determination.
(This is a summary of the Message from Director, CEO & COO, President, Representative Executive Officer Shugo Hosoda at the new year ceremony on January 5.)