technology/business ideas of universities/different industries and construction enterprises is being carried out. New business development supporting construction industries and supporting businesses for promotion of cooperation in different fields is being implemented.

Furthermore, in order to further facilitate new business development and management reform as well as measures for strengthening the business base, a one-stop service center is established in each prefecture for providing unitary services related to construction business operators and is being supported by cooperation with the related ministries and government offices. Especially in relation to development of the construction industry, the enhancement of a consulting system is in progress, such as by increasing consultation meetings with the consultants of small-sized and medium enterprises.

In addition, in order to strengthen management and implementation capabilities by securing continuous cooperative relationships between small-sized and medium core construction business operators, the appropriate utilization of Joint Ventures of Regular Construction is being promoted. Also, systemization of the small-sized and medium core construction business operators as well as business cooperation are being pushed forward. The invigoration of common businesses by business cooperatives $ ^{1} $ and business reform activities is also being promoted.

Besides, while construction investment is decreasing, construction-related industries (building surveyors, construction consultants, geological surveyors, etc.) are exploring the participation of appropriate competitive markets and expanding the new business scope so as to develop themselves as intellectual industries for working out the quality assurance of business achievements and to make themselves a source of technology and personnel. MLIT is also working towards the substantial development and growth of superior construction-related industries through the appropriate utilization of the registration system for construction-related industries.

## (6) Current situation concerning construction machinery and development of the construction industry

In FY 2007, the estimated number of construction machinery owned in our country was around 920,000 $ ^{2} $ . From the figure for purchased construction machinery in different buyer categories, the share of lease/rental businesses was higher than that of construction businesses, which was 58% and 17% respectively. Additionally, in order to secure the level of technological ability for technicians in the construction industry, there is the qualification system called Certificated Technician of Construction Machinery Manipulation that was established based on the “Construction Business Act”. Up to FY 2009, the total number of persons who obtained the Level-1/Level-2 Certificates was 170,000.

In the case of fatal accidents in the construction industry, the percentage of accidents caused by construction machinery was 14% of the total. Recently, the causes of accidents $ ^{3} $ are changing because of the technological advancement of construction machinery. Therefore, the Guidelines for the Safety and Technology of Construction Machinery Manipulation were revised and the Safety Manual for Construction Machinery Manipulation was formulated. The safety measures for construction machinery manipulation are also being pushed forward.

Furthermore, for the purpose of resolving various issues (low productivity, lack of skillful workers, construction quality assurance, etc.) in the construction industry, promotion of the popularization of informative construction, which is an innovative construction skill utilizing ICT, is under way. Therefore, the “Promotion Strategy for Informative Construction” was formulated in July 2008. Existing popular issues are being taken into environment development between the parties receiving and placing the order, such as the formulation of construction management standards and the standardization of design data.

## (7) Handling disputes in construction projects

In order to quickly settle disputes concerning construction contracts, dispute settling procedures are being carried out in the Construction Dispute Council. The application results of the Central Construction Dispute Council in FY 2009 and the Prefectural Construction Dispute Council in FY 2008 was 68 (the number of arbitration, intercession and mediation cases was 11, 51 and 6 respectively) and 131 (the number of arbitration, intercession and mediation cases was 21, 83 and 27 respectively) respectively.