FCE has signed a business-matching agreement with Chugoku Bank, establishing a framework to promote AI adoption among companies in the Setouchi region. Chugoku Bank will introduce business partners, while FCE will provide training, consulting and its AI platform.
FCE has signed a business-matching agreement with Chugoku Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chugin Financial Group. The agreement establishes a framework to support AI adoption among regional companies, primarily in the Setouchi economic area. Chugoku Bank will introduce business partners, while FCE will provide training and consulting for organizational AI adoption, as well as its AI platform, AI OMNI AGENT. The company will provide consistent support from training through implementation in business operations and eventual adoption.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of widening regional disparities in AI adoption. A survey by RAXUS in May 2026 found that approximately 24% of companies in urban areas use AI across multiple departments, compared with approximately 6% in regional areas. Based on these findings, FCE plans to strengthen measures to promote AI adoption by regional companies.
FCE has built a track record in organizational development and human-resource development through programs such as The 7 Habits® training and the Smart Boarding human-resource development platform. In May 2026, it began offering AI adoption training and consulting for organizations. Going forward, FCE will support AI adoption by regional companies and the sustainable development of regional economies by expanding its partnerships with regional banking groups nationwide.