Shimano Jinjibu Inc. (Location: Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, Representative Director: Taihei Chida), which provides recruitment consulting in Miyakojima, Ishigaki Island, and Naha, has entered into a business partnership agreement with Hopes Inc. (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shinichiro Sakai), which operates an athlete education business. We are pleased to announce this. ■ Summary of this Release ・ Shimano Jinjibu Inc. and Hopes Inc. will commence a comprehensive business partnership. ・ Hopes Inc. will take over the 'Recruitment Information Site Business' previously operated by Shimano Jinjibu Inc. ・ Hopes Inc. will provide its training content, instructors, and training planning/sales expertise to Shimano Jinjibu Inc., launching 'Human Resource Development Services Tailored to Regional Needs' in Miyakojima and Ishigaki Island, where a corporate training business had not previously existed. ・ A new model will be established to improve employee retention rates centered on 'education' in remote island areas, which have particularly low employee retention rates within Okinawa Prefecture, thereby enhancing the quality and productivity of human resources for businesses and the region as a whole. ・ This initiative is planned to expand to the northern part of Okinawa Island within one year. ■ Background and Recognition of Issues in this Comprehensive Business Partnership While tourism demand in regional cities is expanding due to the prolonged yen depreciation and increased inbound tourism, the dual challenges of 'securing workers' and 'retaining them' are becoming more severe in remote island areas, including Miyakojima and Ishigaki Island. Shimano Jinjibu Inc. has been addressing the human resource challenges of local industries through recruitment support and job site operations in Miyakojima and Ishigaki Island. Through this, we have become acutely aware of the reality that Okinawa Prefecture has a remarkably low employee retention rat