#Japan #Digital Skills #FORVAL #Iwakuni

Forval Secures Two-Year Contract in Iwakuni City

Forval, based in Shibuya, Tokyo, has announced its successful bid for the digital skills development and workforce support project in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This contract for the fiscal year 2026 follows their previous engagement in fiscal year 2025, marking a significant achievement for the company.

Background of the Contract

Iwakuni City is currently facing challenges with population decline and labor shortages, which have made the enhancement of local businesses' productivity and competitive edge critical. To address these issues, there is a pressing need for the promotion of digitalization within companies and the nurturing of talent capable of implementing these changes.

Forval has been recognized for its proven track record in supporting small and medium enterprises across Japan, along with its expertise in digital transformation (DX) initiatives. This recognition has enabled them to secure a continuation of the project, which aims to elevate the overall awareness of DX within local companies and provide effective support for their digital transformations.

Achievements from Fiscal Year 2025

During the previous fiscal year, Forval conducted several key initiatives aimed at enhancing both Iwakuni's businesses and job seekers. Here are some highlights:

1. Visualization of Business Challenges and Digitalization Support:
Forval visited over 150 local businesses to gauge their understanding of DX, their current levels of digital utilization, and the challenges they faced regarding human resources. Leveraging these insights, they systematically outlined the obstacles each company needed to address in their digitalization efforts. They also created training opportunities that could be applied practically, such as courses on AI, social media, and DX promotion plans.

2. Digital Talent Development Support:
Forval provided courses and e-learning modules to equip job seekers with essential digital skills. They fostered learning opportunities focused on IT literacy, the utilization of digital tools, and business process optimization, leading to the qualification of five individuals as DX advisors.

3. Promotion of Talent Matching:
Forval facilitated matching opportunities between newly trained digital professionals and local businesses. This included various employment formats such as full-time jobs, part-time roles, and contracted work, contributing to the establishment of a talent circulation model within the region.

These efforts have successfully created a virtuous cycle of talent development, business support, and job creation, thereby laying a solid foundation for regional digital transformation in Iwakuni.

Initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026

With the commencement of the second year of the project in fiscal year 2026, Forval intends to build on the successes of the previous year with a stronger focus on the following areas:

1. Enhanced Support Based on Business Needs:
Continuing their training programs on DX promotion, Forval will emphasize tailored support for corporate challenges, aiming to ensure practical adoption of the concepts.

2. Development of Practical Digital Skills:
The goal is to nurture talent equipped with essential practical skills such as data utilization, business design, and DX promotion capabilities.

3. Facilitating Talent Acquisition Aligned with Business Needs:
To optimize the matching of talent to the needs of businesses, Forval will visualize job seekers' skills and aptitudes, ensuring the best possible matches.

4. Fostering Self-Sustainability in the Region:
The focus will be on establishing a sustainable model for local talent development and utilization that can persist beyond the project's conclusion.

About Forval Inc.

Forval Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard: 8275) focuses on providing consulting services for small and medium-sized enterprises, primarily through a unique supportive model. They offer management support across five areas: information and communications, international business, environmental sustainability, human resources and education, and business succession and entrepreneurship. By utilizing their distinctive