On February 18, NYK welcomed 9 Australian university students interning in Japan as part of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) — a next-generation development assistance initiative sponsored by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This marks the third year that NYK has participated in the program.

The NCP is an Australian government initiative designed to cultivate human resources with a deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific region by supporting Australian university students seeking to study abroad and participate in internships in Asian countries. Since 2017, Mitsubishi Group companies operating in Australia have jointly hosted the New Colombo Plan Mitsubishi Group Internship Program, which supports Australian students pursuing international experiences. This year, eight Mitsubishi Group companies** participated in the internship program, which ran from February 9 to February 24, with each company hosting interns in turn.

At NYK, the interns gained firsthand experience of the operations supporting Japan’s maritime industry through a tour of the Yokohama (Daikoku) Car Terminal and a ship-handling simulator experience at Japan Marine Science Inc. (JMS). In classroom sessions, NYK introduced its relationship with Australia and its diverse range of businesses, including automotive logistics, space development projects, and ammonia-related projects.

The NYK Group will continue to create opportunities for active exchange with Australia to foster the development of next-generation global talent and deepen understanding of diverse cultures, while further strengthening the partnership between Japan and Australia.

* New Colombo Plan (NCP)
A flagship initiative of the Australian government designed to support Australian citizens in undertaking study abroad, language training, and internships in the Indo-Pacific region. The program consists of three components: the NCP Scholarship, which supports long-term overseas study of up to 19 months; the NCP Mobility Program, which supports short-term overseas study; and a semester-based program that supports study abroad on a semester basis.
Through these programs, the NCP aims to enrich students’ personal development by creating opportunities for them to engage with the diverse cultures, languages, business environments, and educational systems of neighboring countries.

** Eight Mitsubishi Group companies
MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.; NYK Line; Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Motors Corporation; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.; Mitsubishi Corporation; and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation