Fuji Staff Inc., a midsize manpower agency, said Tuesday it has agreed on a business tieup with Management Recruiters International Inc. of the U.S.

The deal gives MRI, the world's leading provider of executive recruiting services, a foray into the Japanese market and allows Fuji Staff to serve as a franchisee for MRI in Japan, Fuji Staff said in a news release.

Fuji Staff said the business alliance is designed to expand its recruiting services in Japan.

It said it will set up a subsidiary, MRI Japan, by March to run about 30 branches to provide recruiting services with the business knowhow of MRI by 2006.