METI’s SME Agency is planning to construct a database of SMEs and venture businesses in order promote public procurement business opportunities with government organisations for more recently established private sector entities.

Officials in charge of procurement at central ministries and affiliated organisations will be able consult this database for information about goods and services that these companies offer. In case of limited tenders (zuii keiyaku), new businesses are supported in the improvement of their business performance by means of offering more tender participation opportunities and a more flexible application of tender participation qualifications. 

The database is schedule to open for registry at the end of March, and implementation of the registry is expected to commence after the ‘Bill for demand creation for SMEs’ has passed through the current session of parliament.

 At present, it is not yet clear whether foreign venture businesses and SMEs will be able to register for this new database service and be given an equal opportunity to offer their innovative services to Japanese government organisations. 

Source: Nikkan Business, 政府調達、中小・ベンチャーに門戸－企業庁、企業データベース構築 (March 27, 2015)