We also believe that maintaining public health is key to the constant improvement of how society functions and this, in turn, empowers people to enjoy sustainable economic activities.
We will continue to undertake a variety of initiatives to enable our customers, communities, society, as well as the next generation, to pursue various healthy lifestyles.
| MUFG’s recognition |
 Innovation in the healthcare sector will contribute to improvement in social and economic resilience. |
|---|---|
 The sustainability of economic activities will be largely dependent on the strengthening of capabilities for preventing novel infectious viruses from spreading (via the development of vaccines, etc.) and responsiveness to the pandemic (via the development of medical technologies and institutions) in order to ensure robust social functions in anticipation of the further aging of population. |
Main Initiatives
Supporting R&D of Next-Generation Vaccines through Impact Investing
The Bank has entered into an investment agreement with VLP Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company. With its business philosophy of responding to the “unmet medical needs” of the world, VLP Therapeutics researches and develops cancer treatment as well as vaccines for malaria, dengue, and COVID-19.
Considering the social significance and the potential the firm has, we have decided not only to directly invest in the firm but also to provide personnel to VLP Therapeutics in order to support its business management more closely. In fiscal 2022, through collaboration among three parties including consultants, we worked to deepen impact engagement, taking actions such as establishing an international principle-based impact assessment framework for the investment.
Krungsri Breast Cancer Awareness Project
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) has been involved in diverse activities to ensure health and high-quality healthcare as well as promoting well-being of the local community and their employees.
In collaboration with the Breast Foundation Under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, Krungsri has provided free breast cancer screening for disadvantaged women, as well as supporting the creation of online media which aims to enhance knowledge of the breast self-examination. This online media will be delivered to public health service centers, to increase awareness for breast cancer.
In addition, Krungsri joined hands with the foundation in organizing activities to raise awareness of breast cancer and breast self-examination by having the foundation’s experts educate and demonstrate the correct breast self-examination method to health volunteers, totaling 100 people from two public health service centers in Yan Nawa District and three Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals in Samut Prakan Province.
Initiatives Related to Food and Nutrition
Lifestyle-related diseases and other diseases originating in nutritional issues impede the nation's economic growth and spur increases in medical expenses and other social security costs. Solving nutrition-related issues is essential for the sustainable advancement of Japan and the world.
Initiatives to address these concerns directly relate to overcoming threats to health in an aging society in Japan, as well as to the development of the next generation and support for children. Such initiatives will provide comprehensive support for the sound growth of all children and for raising the quality of life, as well as activities connected to the preservation and transmission of Japan's food culture.
The supply chains of the food most familiar in people's lives extend globally in terms of raw materials, production, distribution, and retail. Food encompasses diverse social issues including climate change, biodiversity, human rights, supply chain disruptions during emergencies, malnutrition, and overnutrition. MUFG will take the lead in addressing these problems.