Zebras and Company representative appointed to support SME Agency study tours

Zebras and Company representative Yohei Azakami has been appointed as a support provider for the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency’s FY2026 ‘Study Tour’ program. This initiative is designed to promote the creation and cultivation of ‘Local Zebra companies’—businesses that balance solving regional social issues with sustainable economic growth.

The program aims to establish regional ecosystems by facilitating learning from successful pilot regions. Key focus areas include mastering methods for ecosystem construction, developing collaborative frameworks between local and external organizations, and designing business concepts and funding methods. The agency is currently accepting applications from regional collaboration teams, which may include local enterprises, municipalities, financial institutions, and academic organizations.

The promotion of Local Zebra companies has been included in Japanese government policy documents for four consecutive years. This year, the concept remains a key component of the ‘Regional Future Strategy’ under the broader ‘Japan Growth Strategy’ framework, emphasizing the strengthening of earning power in small and medium-sized enterprises and supporting sustainable wage increases.