On March 17 Fujikin was designated by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as one of the 100 best GNT (Global Niche Top) enterprises which excels in global developments and is expected to lead the Japanese economy representing the field relating to the high-pressure gas industry. The object product for the designation was Fujikin’s super-precision valve for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

This system to select companies having excellent global developments has newly been instituted by METI for the purpose to provide a guidance or a target for the enterprise which are headed for “niche-top” status.

METI publicly sought candidates and selected applicable companies through the deliberation by the selection assessment committee consisting of external intellectuals. The points for assessment were ① compatibility of world share and profitability, ② creativity and autonomy, ③ measures against substitution risks and ④ sustainability of world share.

The selected 100 companies consist of 52 from machinery/processing industry, 20 from material/chemical, 15 from electric/electronics industries and 13 from the miscellaneous fields including consumer goods. In terms of the size of industry, 94 enterprises are medium or small-sized.