Sharing insights on the automotive aftermarket business and expansion strategy in Africa Eiichi Ukai, CEO of NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) paid a courtesy visit to the Republic of Tunisia on October 6, where he met with Ms. Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy of Tunisia and Mr. Takeshi Osuga, Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Tunisia. This visit was made possible following NTN Europe S.A. (Head office: Annecy, France), a subsidiary of NTN operating in Europe and Africa, acquiring a capital stake in La Tunisie Mecanique S.A. (Head office: Tunis, Tunisia, hereafter LTM), a manufacturer of automotive shock absorbers in Tunisia, in May of this year*1. At the meeting, NTN presented an overview of the company, its global expansion in the automotive aftermarket business including manufacturing of shock absorbers and the background behind its entry into the Tunisian market. Minister Chiboub expressed a warm welcome to NTN's entry into Tunisia and offered strong support for its future business development, resulting in a positive and constructive dialogue. With Ambassador Osuga, discussions were held regarding the status of Japanese automotive-related manufacturers entering Tunisia and the country's strengths in industrial sectors. This visit served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with the local government and relevant institutions in connection with NTN's shock absorber manufacturing project in Tunisia. Additionally, CEO Ukai visited LTM and its parent company, the Al Badr Group, including a factory tour and discussions with employees from both companies regarding future business development. NTN will leverage this visit to accelerate its shock absorber manufacturing project in Tunisia, expand its automotive aftermarket business, and further advance its operations across the African region.