KUALA LUMPUR, 3 August 2018 

ÆON Group of Companies today held an introduction of its new products at The Boulevard Hotel, Kuala Lumpur namely ÆON Member PLUS Card & ÆON E-Wallet.

Through ASEP activities, the Foundation works to develop human resources that are active with a global perspective in environmental fields, and positions it as a project of importance. Started in 2012, the program is held annually by adding one country and one university. This year welcomes the participation of Myanmar’s Yangon University of Economics. 72 university students from nine countries will conduct fieldwork on the outskirts Kuala Lumpur under the theme of “Gifts from the Tropical Rainforest”.

The students will learn about biodiversity through tree planting activities in Selangor State where tree planting is being conducted by AEON CO. (M) BHD. with the aim of securing a breeding habitat for fireflies. 200 species of trees such as metroxylon sago, bridelia tomentosa and ficus hispida were amongst the species chosen for rehabilitation of degraded firefly at Tanjung Beluntas, Kuala Selangor. To date, AEON has planted more than 1,000 trees in Kuala Selangor where growth of fireflies were recorded. The students will also study about the characteristics and role of tropical rain forests at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. Through fieldwork, the students will think about environmental and ecological problems of tropical rain forests, and deepen their understanding of efforts being done for nature and humans to co-exist and for a sustainable society. They will also make a proposal on “Coexistence with Tropical Rain Forests, Succession to the Next Generation”.

The Foundation will continue to proactively engage in environmental conservation activities including environmental education to pass on nature’s beauty full of life to the next generation.

Note:
Program dates: Thursday, August 1 – Sunday, August 5, 2018
Venue: Outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizer: AEON Environmental Foundation
Cooperation: Waseda University (Japan), University of Malaya (Malaysia)
Participating Schools: Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Tsinghua University (China), University of Indonesia (Indonesia), Waseda University (Japan), Korea University (Korea), University of Malaya (Malaysia), Yangon University of Economics (Myanmar), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Vietnam)

Sponsor:

1. Embassy of Japan in Malaysia
2. Japan Committee for United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J)
3. The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.,
4. China Youth Daily
5. The Korea Times
6. Tuoi Tre News (Vietnam)
7. Kompas Newspaper (Indonesia)

Attendance (scheduled)
Opening Ceremony:

1. Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change, Deputy Secretary General, Science, Technology & Innovation (STI), YBhg. Professor Madya Dr. Ramzah bin Dambul
2. Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa
3. Embassy of Cambodia in Kuala Lumpur Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary His Excellency Rath Many
4. University of Malaya Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan
5. AEON Environmental Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Naoki Hayashi
6. AEON Asia Sdn. Bhd and AEON CO. (M) BHD. Managing Director, Mr. Shinobu Washizawa

Closing Ceremony:

1. University of Malaya Director of UMCARES
2. Prof. Dr. Norzulaani Khalid
3. AEON Asia Sdn. Bhd. and AEON CO. (M) BHD. Managing Director, Mr. Shinobu Washizawa

Main Program: • August 2 (Thursday) – Opening Ceremony (University of Malaya) • August 3 (Friday) – Tree planting (Selangor State firefly habitat), Forest Research Institute, Malaysia fieldwork, AEON Shah Alam store observation, Lecture by expert • August 4 (Saturday) – Mangrove visit, cultural village viewing • August 5 (Sunday) – Results Presentation, Closing Ceremony (University of Malaya）

AEON’s Environmental and Social Initiatives in Malaysia

• Planting Trees From 2004 to 2009, the AEON Environmental Foundation planted a total of approximately 60,000 trees in the Paya Indah Wetlands of Selangor, Malaysia. In addition, since 2014 we have planted about 8,000 trees in Bidor, Perak, for the reforestation of a tropical plateau ravaged by mining development. Sabah, East Malaysia: In Lahad Datu, in two years we planted 800 trees of four varieties, including mangos, which feed orangutans in their habitat. All in all, we have planted over 69,000 trees in Malaysia.
• AEON Scholarships (sponsored by the AEON 1% Club Foundation)　 “AEON Scholarships” which is providing scholarships for Asian students studying in Japan and university students in other Asian countries has been awarded to 5,675 university students from seven nations. Since 2007, AEON Scholarships in Malaysia have been awarded to a total of 562 students studying abroad in Japan.
• Asia Youth Leaders (sponsored by the AEON 1% Club Foundation)　 This is a program for high school and university students to discuss solutions to local social problems. Students of diverse backgrounds from six countries – Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Malaysia – search for solutions to social issues. Since 2013, 56 Malaysian students have participated.
• Teenage Ambassadors (sponsored by the AEON 1% Club Foundation)　 High school students from Japan and Malaysia participated in the Teenage Ambassador program in 1990 and 2001 to facilitate international interaction, forging stronger ties with each other. This program started in 1990. These young ambassadors visit embassies and government institutions of both nations and learn about diverse values and deepen mutual understanding through classroom and homestay experiences.