Economic globalization is not just a matter of concern for large companies, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 99 percent of companies in Japan, thus forming the basis of the nation's economy.
In dealing with globalization by exploring new markets and strengthening competitiveness, it is important for Japan to strategically address the international standardization of domestic technologies through the united efforts of the public and private sectors.
On May 15, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a standardization strategy. Among the points of focus were boosting the support functions for SMEs. Following the announcement, which led to the creation of a new standardization system in Japan, the Japanese Standards Association (JSA) set up a general standardization advisory center on June 20.