Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' (MOL) President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto welcomed 117 new employees and shared MOL's history and future direction. He highlighted the company’s growth following the merger of MOL and Navix Line and its shift from a Japan-centered company to a global player due to increasing seaborne trade. However, the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent global recession led to a challenging period. Despite efforts to correct oversupply and reduce vessels, profits remained stagnant for years.

By 2019, structural reforms allowed for recovery, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought both challenges and unexpected profits in 2021 and 2022. With MOL’s improved financial position, Hashimoto emphasized the company's focus on diversifying into new business areas beyond shipping, aiming to transform MOL into a broader social infrastructure company. He encouraged the new employees to use their individual strengths for the company’s future growth and success.