Four Ministries Support "Zebra Companies"; Reiwa 8th Year "Zebra Company" Related Policy Announcement Meeting to be Held on May 21!

Zebras and Company Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representatives: Yohei Azagami, Yoshitaka Tabuchi) will host the "Reiwa 8th Year Zebra Company Related Policy Announcement Meeting" on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The purpose of this event is to widely share government initiatives concerning Zebra Companies. In addition to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, which conducted demonstration projects in Reiwa 6th and 7th years, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of the Environment are also promoting policies for Zebra Companies, indicating a growing cross-sectoral expansion of national initiatives. This year, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of the Environment will continue to participate and introduce measures related to Zebra Companies. Through this announcement meeting, we aim to provide a dialogue platform to understand the necessity of Zebra Companies in current society by viewing related policies from each ministry not as isolated "points" but as a comprehensive "surface," and to gain insights into how individual Zebra Companies can utilize these policies. Scenes from the Reiwa 7th Year Announcement Meeting: https://www.zebrasand.co.jp/4082 Furthermore, information on public offerings and details of systems will be sequentially released by each ministry in preparation for this announcement meeting. We will also update this release as information becomes available. For an overall picture of each measure and how they can be utilized across sectors, please attend the announcement meeting. Event Details: [Event Name] Reiwa 8th Year "Zebra Company" Related Policy Announcement Meeting [Date] Thursday, May 21, 2026, 16:00-18:00 (Doors open 15:40) [Venue] Online distribution [Participation Fee] Free (pre-registration required) [Organizer] Zebras and Company Co., Ltd. [Application] https://peatix.com/event/4990547/view Detailed Content: This announcement meeting will be delivered in two parts. ■ Greetings from Zebras and Company (10 minutes) ■ Part 1: Introduction of Initiatives from Each Ministry (50 minutes) Officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of the Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will speak. They will introduce the latest policies and future outlook related to Zebra Companies and regional management. • Tomoko Ina (Director, Commercial Affairs Division, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) • Seiji Kuraishi (Director, Real Estate Business Division, Real Estate and Construction Economy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) • Kensuke Asahi (Director, Rural Revitalization Promotion Office, Rural Development Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) • Tomoko Uetake (Director, Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere Promotion Office, Ministry of the Environment) ■ Part 2: Discussion by Each Ministry (45 minutes) ■ Q&A (5 minutes) Recommended for: • Entrepreneurs and managers interested in Zebra Companies • Practitioners exploring new businesses rooted in local communities • Businesses and supporters considering utilizing national related policies • Local governments and support organizations wishing to learn from advanced cases in other regions • Administrative, financial institutions, and intermediate support organizations involved in regional support ■ Main Public Offering and Policy Information at Present (updated as needed) *Future public offering information from each ministry will be added sequentially. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Small and Medium Enterprise Agency) Reiwa 8th Year Local Zebra Project (consignment contractor being selected) This project aims to create and nurture Local Zebra Companies that balance both economic and social aspects. It seeks to disseminate and establish mechanisms where regional business creation companies (1) and Local Zebra Companies collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to circulate management resources within the region, build mutual aid frameworks in the regional economy, and develop an environment for evaluating social impact (2). The project will undertake the following initiatives: To create examples of mechanisms that generate regional economic circulation, we will collaborate with related ministries to develop soft infrastructure for regional business creation companies and Local Zebra Companies to build cooperation systems with regional stakeholders in various locations. To ensure smooth supply of growth capital to regional business creation companies and Local Zebra Companies, we will collaborate with the Financial Services Agency to verify models for building finance mechanisms tailored to regional circumstances. Based on these results, we will formulate guidance summarizing matters to be considered by funders and fundraisers in their dialogue. (1) Regional business creation company: A company that attracts management resources such as funds and human resources from within and outside the region to promote the establishment and growth of Local Zebra Companies, becoming the core of the regional ecosystem and creating regional economic circulation. (2) Social impact: Social and environmental changes generated by business activities and investments. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Regional Value Co-creation Model Project (Application period: April 15, 2026 - May 29, 2026) An initiative that aims to create new regional value by promoting the utilization of vacant houses and lands through collaboration with real estate agents as the core, local governments, and diverse entities (construction, tourism, welfare, education, agriculture, finance, etc.).