There are 30 companies in the Nisshin Steel Group in Japan. The Group comprises a wide range of industries, such as cutting-edge manufacturing and processing companies that use Nisshin Steel products, companies that sell Nisshin Steel products, companies that process raw materials for Nisshin Steel's use, and companies providing distribution and other services. However, Nisshin Steel's core business of steel production will always be the nucleus of the Group.   Nisshin Steel considers the expansion of product development and the broadening of downstream applications to be be its two principal pillars of growth. Group synergy plays a crucial role in the enhancement of these two fields.   For example, our sales and marketing departments, ever attuned to client needs, will call upon the processing technologies of all Group companies to develop new products in response to market requirements. In turn, Nisshin Steel will develop new materials based on the manufacturing needs of Group companies. From such cooperation, we nurture expansion in the scope of our industry.   We expect market growth in a variety of fields for processed products. Nisshin Steel is paying special attention to the housing construction industry, as housing standardization and environmental preservation issues stimulate the switch from the use of wood to steel. Nisshin Steel and its Group companies are bringing together the resources and information necessary to take on market development in this area.