Master thesis offers a comprehensive look on export promotion in the Czech republic. It analyses the state of the Czech pro-export policy, the level of services offered by government to exporters and it suggests solutions to some current problems in these areas.

The topic of diploma thesis is the comparison of export promotion policy of Czech Republic and Slovakia. Both countries, as small export-focused economies to a great extent economically dependent on exports, must pay huge attention to export promotion provided by state. The thesis is focused on description and analysis of export promotion policy of Czech Republic and Slovakia and on their comparison. The content of the thesis is divided into five chapters. The fist chapter describes theoretical concept of export promotion policy and its instruments, defines foreign-trade policy and trade policy, liberalism and protectionism, and analyzes the structure and importance of export in Czech Republic and Slovakia. The second chapter is dedicated to short history of support of export in Czechoslovakia in 1945-1990 under the Soviet influence and after the fall of Soviet Union in 1990-1992. The third chapter is focused on detailed description and analysis of export promotion policy in Czech Republic, its development and institutions. The fourth chapter describes Slovakian export promotion policy in the same way. The fifth chapter is addressed to Common Trade Policy of the European Union and its impact on export promotion in Czech Republic and Slovakia, to evaluation of its present state and comparison of export promotion policies of Czech Republic and Slovakia.

It has been recognised that exporting is an engine for growth at both country and firm levels. However, the challenging nature of international business often prevents companies from entering and surviving in international markets. In the Small and Medium-size Business context, lack of resource is normally the main reason behind the inability of firms to overcome export barriers. In recognition of the issue and for promoting exporting, the governments have been offering the so-called Government Export Promotion Programmes (GEPPs) to act as “resource supplements”. While there have been extensive practices, the mechanism and effectiveness of these programmes have not been thoroughly explored and analysed. In some academic studies, criticisms and doubts about these programmes have been raised. Against this background, the thesis investigates the working mechanism of these programmes and tests their effectiveness in terms of export initiation, performance and regularity. Using an extended version of the Resource Based View, two integrative and comprehensive conceptual models are developed in order to reveal the indirect impacts of GEPPs on export behaviour. The models are then tested with a total of 495 completed questionnaires collected from two sample countries; namely, Algeria and the UK. These were analysed through a multivariate analysis using a variance-based statistical technique known as Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The findings of this thesis are two-fold. First, with respect to the critical resources affecting export behaviour, the study finds that while both Algerian and UK firms’export intention are affected by management resources only, firms’ export performance and regularity are instead mainly influenced by management and organisational resources in the UK and management and relational resources in Algeria. Second, regarding the impact of GEPPs on export intention, the study confirms its indirect nature through the management resources in both countries. However, when it comes to their effect on export performance and regularity, the indirect effect was only established in the UK and mainly through management and organisational resources. These findings have both theoretical and practical implications in that the results have provided empirical evidence on the indirect impact of GEPPs and can serve as an indication in practice for both firm managers and policy makers in deploying key resources for different stages of internationalisation.

The South African government recognises the need for export growth to contribute towards economic growth and articulates this in different national policy documents. It is evident that the Western Cape Province also recognises the need for export growth, as the province is facing various economic and socio-economic challenges. Therefore, aligning policies to focus on export promotion which supports the labour intensive sectors within the province by uplifting employment and eradicate poverty. The aim of this study is to determine specifically export market diversification opportunities for the Western Cape Province. The main objective is to determine the Western Cape’s world-wide market diversification opportunities with the highest export potential. The literature underlines the importance of export growth and the benefits of export diversification. It can also be concluded that countries operating in the extensive margin are more likely to generate high economic growth and development opportunities. By implementing export diversification strategies, higher employment levels and output growth can be achieved on a provincial and national level. A three-step methodological process to determine the export market diversification opportunities for the Western Cape Province is used. Firstly, the products in which the Western Cape Province has a revealed export specialisation are determined by using the revealed trade advantage (RTA); secondly, the geographical concentration of the Western Cape’s exports of these products is determined by means of the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI); and lastly, the export market opportunities for the Western Cape Province’s export-orientated products that are geographically concentrated are determined by using the decision support model (DSM). The results of the study identified 188 geographically concentrated export products for the Western Cape and 2 866 realistic product-country level export diversification opportunities. It is recommended that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Western Cape trade promotion organisation, WESGRO, in collaboration with the relevant export councils and industry associations, use the results of this study to focus their export promotion and diversification strategies on the identified product-country combinations. / MCom, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The South African government recognises the need for export growth to contribute towards economic growth and articulates this in different national policy documents. It is evident that the Western Cape Province also recognises the need for export growth, as the province is facing various economic and socio-economic challenges. Therefore, aligning policies to focus on export promotion which supports the labour intensive sectors within the province by uplifting employment and eradicate poverty. The aim of this study is to determine specifically export market diversification opportunities for the Western Cape Province. The main objective is to determine the Western Cape’s world-wide market diversification opportunities with the highest export potential. The literature underlines the importance of export growth and the benefits of export diversification. It can also be concluded that countries operating in the extensive margin are more likely to generate high economic growth and development opportunities. By implementing export diversification strategies, higher employment levels and output growth can be achieved on a provincial and national level. A three-step methodological process to determine the export market diversification opportunities for the Western Cape Province is used. Firstly, the products in which the Western Cape Province has a revealed export specialisation are determined by using the revealed trade advantage (RTA); secondly, the geographical concentration of the Western Cape’s exports of these products is determined by means of the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI); and lastly, the export market opportunities for the Western Cape Province’s export-orientated products that are geographically concentrated are determined by using the decision support model (DSM). The results of the study identified 188 geographically concentrated export products for the Western Cape and 2 866 realistic product-country level export diversification opportunities. It is recommended that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Western Cape trade promotion organisation, WESGRO, in collaboration with the relevant export councils and industry associations, use the results of this study to focus their export promotion and diversification strategies on the identified product-country combinations. / MCom, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Export promotion policy in general, its importance, single instruments and regulation on the international level and within the framework of the EU. Comparison of systems of the export promotion policy, particular provided services and institutions dealing with the export promotion policy. Export strategy of the Czech Republic for the period of 2006 - 2010 and the austrian initiative Go International.

This diploma thesis deals with the non-financial part of the export promotion system of the Czech Republic and is focused on a description of activities of the CzechTrade agency and the Economic and Commercial sections of the Embassies of the Czech Republic. In conclusion, the evaluation and comparison of results based on own research is carried out, followed by proposals for a better effectiveness of the state export promotion system.

La tesi analizza la competitività nel commercio internazionale con un approccio multidimensionale. Il lavoro verte su tre livelli: a) una analisi di indicatori di produttività in aziende agroalimentari che operano con maggiore successo nel mercato estero; b) il ruolo delle agenzie di promozione a supporto delle aziende esportatrici; c) le barriere non tariffarie e le vertenze a livello dell’organizzazione mondiale del commercio (WTO) in materia sanitaria e fitosanitaria. Il lavoro condotto nelle tre prospettive microeconomica, istituzionale e internazionale, sottolinea il legame del commercio estero quale fattore di miglioramento della competitività delle aziende, evidenzia inoltre il ruolo importante delle istituzioni ed agenzie di supporto che accompagnano le aziende nel processo di internazionalizzazione, infine viene messo in luce la modifica dei rapporti internazionali per quanto attiene le barriere non tariffarie e le vertenze in campo sanitario e fitosanitario fra i Paesi aderenti al Wto, evidenziando una riduzione della centralità di Stati Uniti ed Unione Europea. / The thesis analyzes the competitiveness in international trade with a multidimensional approach. The work focuses on three levels: a) an analysis of productivity indicators in the agro-food and beverage companies that operate with greater success in the foreign market; b) the role of promotion agencies in support of exporting companies; c) and finally, non-tariff barriers and trade concerns at the level of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in sanitary and phytosanitary matters. The work, conducted in the three perspectives (microeconomic, institutional and international), underlines the link between foreign trade as a factor in improving the competitiveness of companies, also highlights the important role of the institutions and support agencies that accompany companies in the internationalization process, and finally it sheds light on the change in international relations, regarding non-tariff barriers and sanitary and phytosanitary trade concerns between the WTO members, highlighting a reduction in the centrality of the United States and European Union.

In the dissertation from the holistic point of view are discussed export development peculiarities in the global area. The main aim of the dissertation is the expansion of the export development concept in consideration to the challenges of globalization. Therefore, peculiarities of internationalization and globalization processes and their connections in the context of export development are discussed; alternation of internationalization models under conditions of globalization is evaluated, highlighting integrated economic and social export development benefit. The export development mechanisms and instruments as well as their creation, adaptation and other aspects are analyzed and summarized. Moreover, world’s and especially Finland’s innovative experience in this area in the global context is emphasized. Based on analysis and synthesis of scientific literature theoretical integrated export development trajectories model was developed by the author. The main aim of the research is to prepare the integrated export development directions model with the focus on its applicability to Lithuania’s export development possibilities improvement in the context of current state of globalization. Through the use of the summarized results from the Lithuanian SME’s empirical research, discovering main suppressive reasons for export development, and expert research, evaluating Lithuanian export promotion current state and perspectives, the current Lithuanian export promotion activities... [to full text] / Disertacijoje holistiniu požiūriu nagrinėjami eksporto plėtros ypatumai globalioje erdvėje. Pagrindinis darbo tikslas - eksporto plėtros koncepcijos išplėtimas įvertinant globalizacijos iššūkius. Disertacijoje įvairiais aspektais atskleisti internacionalizacijos ir globalizacijos procesų ypatumai ir jų sąsajos, bei teikiamos naujos galimybės eksporto plėtrai; įvertinama internacionalizacijos modelių kaita globalizacijos sąlygomis, išryškinamos integruotos ekonomines ir socialines eksporto plėtros naudos. Disertacijoje atskleista eksporto plėtros instrumentų panaudojimo esmė bei pagrįsti alternatyvių eksporto plėtros ir skatinimo priemonių pasirinkimai ir išanalizuotas empirinis jų panaudojimo ištyrimo lygis pasinaudojant pažangia pasaulio ir ypač Suomijos patirtimi. Remiantis mokslinės literatūros analize ir sinteze sukurtas integruotos eksporto plėtros trajektorijų modelis. Pagrindinis tyrimo tikslas - parengti Lietuvos integruotos eksporto plėtros krypčių modelį šiuolaikinėmis globalizacijos sąlygomis. Darbe atliktas empirinis Lietuvos SVV įmonių tyrimas, kurio metu atskleistos eksporto plėtrą stabdančios priežastys, ekspertinio tyrimo metu atliktas Lietuvos eksporto skatinimo būklės ir perspektyvų vertinimas. Apibendrinti tyrimų rezultatai leido įvertinti Lietuvos eksporto skatinimo veiklos transformavimo motyvus, numatyti integruotos eksporto plėtros būdų tobulinimo sritis ir priemones, skatinančias SVV įmonių eksporto apimčių augimą.

The study intended to investigate whether Zimbabwe possesses realistic potential export opportunities that can lead to the sustainable reconstruction of its economy. The study was initiated on the premise that Zimbabwe is a fragile state and a post-conflict country going through reconstruction. The study also premised itself on the foundation that the current recovery efforts by Zimbabwe – although they have yielded some positive results, have still fallen short of providing sustainable economic growth without meaningful deeper reforms. Hence, this study is an attempt to provide policy makers with an alternative researched export promotion strategy with a focus on realistic potential opportunities. The study employed two techniques, namely survey of literature and empirical investigation. The survey of literature was achieved through theoretical literature on post-conflict reconstruction. Exports were identified in the various experiences of those countries that have gone through post-conflict reconstruction and still managed to use them in their recovery process. This necessitated a thorough investigation of literature to draw a theory upon which exports promotion could rely. The major theory that was surveyed in the literature is exportled growth (ELG). The theory is based on the premise that exports influence economic growth. Empirical evidence through literature was established in the studies carried out in different countries supporting the hypothesis. The theory was seen as superior to the import substitution strategy which led many developing countries to lag behind those which adopted export-led growth policies. The other aspect of empirical investigation was carried out through the application of the Decision Support Model (DSM). This is a scientific model that is used as a method of market selection. The model’s 4 filters were modified to include a 5th filter to specifically take into account the special circumstances of Zimbabwe. The 5th filter extension of the model provided a substantial contribution by this study to the model. A proxy of Zimbabwe’s neighbours – namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia was used to reinforce Zimbabwe’s competitiveness. This was based on the assumption that if Zimbabwe’s neighbours under similar conditions can successfully penetrate certain markets, then Zimbabwe should not find it difficult to penetrate the same markets. This empirical investigation showed that Zimbabwe does possess realistic potential export opportunities. The results identified 344 realistic export opportunities (REOs) for Zimbabwe in 17 regions, 50 countries, 13 sectors and 112 product lines. The study observed that Zimbabwe is in fact not utilising much of the REOs. In order to enable Zimbabwe to utilise the REOs, the study developed an appropriate export promotion strategy. The export promotion strategy is based on the results obtained from empirical investigation. The export promotion strategy has sub-strategies which respond to the specific needs of individual sectors and individual markets. The study established that instead of spending resources in an unfocused manner, the meagre resources can be applied to a more focused export promotion strategy. Based on the experiences of other countries that have gone through a similar post-conflict reconstruction process and have also used the theoretical conceptual framework of the export-led growth theory, the DSM results show there are realistic export opportunities (REOs) and these may contribute towards economic growth and recovery. The study further provided recommendations on how Zimbabwe could realise realistic potential export opportunities. This study has made a three-fold contribution. Firstly, a contribution has been made to the literature on post-conflict reconstruction and export promotion. Secondly, a significant contribution has been made by extending the Decision Support Model with a 5thfilter that also considers the supply side in the model. Finally, it has formulated an export promotion strategy, which can be applied by policy makers in Zimbabwe. / Thesis (PhD (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.