Tamashima Shinkin Bank Launches Use of Overseas Business Matching Platform "BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL"

Kokopelli Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shigeru Kondo) announces that Tamashima Shinkin Bank (Kurashiki, Okayama; President: Hirohiko Takuo) has started using the overseas business matching platform "BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL" on Monday, May 18, 2026. "BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL" is a platform designed to help Japanese and overseas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome national and language barriers to expand sales channels and develop new business partners. Against the backdrop of a shrinking domestic market and a weaker yen, an increasing number of Japanese SMEs are interested in overseas expansion. However, many hesitate due to concerns about selecting business partners, language barriers, and the need for specialized knowledge in trade practices and logistics. To address these challenges, Tamashima Shinkin Bank has decided to introduce "BIG ADVANCE GLOBAL" to support companies wishing to expand internationally. The platform offers features such as an exclusive network of companies vetted by financial institutions, an AI-powered automatic translation function for communication in native languages, and support for trade practices from coordinators familiar with Japanese and Thai languages and business customs. Kokopelli plans to further enhance the service with AI-recommendation features and expand its adoption by other financial institutions, aiming to contribute to the sustainable growth of SMEs.