The Ministry of International Trade & Industry’s attempts to foster a systems integration industry, initiated in 1988, have reached a review point, with the end of the first two-year period of recognition and authoriszation of software companies by MITI: the programme was established with the aim of giving more recognition of software companies thad undertake the construction of systems for customers, with an all-embracing responsibility for hardware configuration, software development and operation, and consists of a two-tier recognition system of registration and authorisation, with the main point of qualification two years ago being experience in the system integration field; in 1988 210 companies received their authorisation; the qualifications for certification are under review and will be finalised at the end of August.