Panasonic Holdings Corporation (hereinafter, Panasonic Group) has received the Social Empowerment award at the "Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026," which evaluates and recognizes ESG/CSR initiatives of Asian companies, for its corporate citizenship activity "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE," which donates Panasonic Group-made solar lanterns to unelectrified areas. The awards ceremony was held on June 26, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Panasonic Group representatives received the award. This award recognizes corporate initiatives that contribute to solving social issues and realizing a sustainable society, with the aim of promoting responsible corporate management in the Asian region. "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" was recognized for delivering solar lanterns to people living in unelectrified areas, as well as creating opportunities for education, health, and income improvement, thereby contributing to the revitalization of local communities. During the judging, the initiative was highly praised for being meticulously planned and executed based on a clear strategy, and for bringing direct impact to the beneficiaries. "This is a highly meaningful initiative that expands the possibilities for education, health, safety, and living in unelectrified areas through 'light,' which is the origin of the Panasonic Group. It is an excellent example of corporate citizenship where the company's core business technology is naturally linked to solving social issues, and it has continued for 13 years, spreading to 36 countries worldwide. We highly value this aspect. We hope that this award will further broaden recognition of the significance of this initiative," commented Mr. Naoki Adachi, Representative Director of Responseability Co., Ltd., and an AREA 2026 judge. ■ Project Background Since 2013, the Panasonic Group has been engaged in activities to deliver "light" to "unelectrified areas" where people cannot escape poverty due to the lack of light or electricity. In collaboration