<p>The interest for doing business with China is increasing constantly. Demands from customers and financial limitations force companies to seek more cost effective solutions to make their businesses profitable. Moving production to or just buying ready made products from China is an alternative that meet these requirements.</p><p>This thesis examines four SME’s (small and medium sized enterprises) on their mission to find a producer in China and how their import process is set up. With the goal to identify and analyse the aspects of the import process, the authors hope to provide a broader understanding on how trading with China works.</p><p>Using a qualitative study, with in-depth interviews, the authors could reach down to the actual feelings and experience of the interviewed subjects. They gave a picture of China being a country surprisingly easy to deal with although they had not all found their producers in the same way.</p><p>Concluding that acting friendly and ethically will take an importer far, theory of Chinese business culture is somewhat disregarded as important knowledge. Each company’s network looks different. Comparing these to what is written is interesting as it shows that all companies do not need great help to succeed with the import process. When dealing with logistics, surprisingly few problems have been caused even though the great distance between Sweden and China. When it comes to the product quality, it is experienced as good even though many have presumptions about Chinese products.</p>

<p>Unibrands is a small company that has implemented a postponement strategy without knowing it. However, they have not implemented completely because they do not know the theories behind it. This report is an attempt to understand and analyze the problems of the implementation of postponement in the supply chain of Unibrands, in terms of examining the theoretical succeeds factors of postponement implementation in the case of Unibrands.The purpose is to determine what type of postponement strategy the supply chain use and what factors can hinder the use of postponement strategy in a SME fashion supply chain by applying an qualitative research approach. The collection of empirical data was through the interview guide approach in which we used meetings and telephone interviews with people representing Unibrands and their contact trading company. The results of this research can be concluded in few perspectives. Unibrands is imple-menting postponement in an improper format, with the results of several gaps in the supply chain related to the success factor in postponement. The request for the fully customization in colors and materials, the bottleneck of relationship developing which is caused by factory manager,  complicated procedures for sample testing, and lack of knowledge of different relationships in the supply chain. Postponement is never perfect, but for Unibrands some problems could very well hinder the efficiency in the supply chain. Solutions are proposed to solve the problems in chain. The proposals suggest re-lationship improvement and information sharing. In addition, culture adaptation by in-volving the right people in the right process.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-250). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-250). Also available on the Internet.

Bovine adenovirus (BAdV)-3 is a non-enveloped icosahedral DNA virus, which replicates in the nucleus of infected cells, and is being developed as a vector for vaccination for humans and animals. The genome of BAdV-3 is organized into early, intermediate and late genes and it has thirty three predicted open reading frames (Reddy et al., 1998). The late region of BAdV-3 is divided into seven families (L1-L7) (Reddy et al., 1998). One of the proteins expressed in the L-6 region encodes a protein called pVIII, which is a minor capsid protein connecting the core with the inner surface of the capsid. The objective of the current study was to characterize pVIII protein of BAdV-3 and to examine its role in the life cycle of BAdV-3. Anti-pVIII serum detected a protein of 24 kDa at 12-48 hr post infection and an additional protein of 8 kDa at 24-48 hr post infection. While a 24 kDa protein is detected in empty capsids, only the C-terminal cleaved protein of 8 kDa is detected in the mature virion suggesting that amino acids 147-216 of conserved C- terminus of BAdV-3 pVIII are incorporated in mature virions. The pVIII protein predominantly localizes to the nucleus of BAdV-3 infected cells utilizing the classical importin α /β dependent nuclear import pathway. Analysis of mutant pVIII demonstrated that amino acids 57-72 of the conserved N-terminus bind to importin α-3 with high affinity and are required for the nuclear localization. Detection of hexon associated with both, precursor (24 kDa) and cleaved (8 kDa) form of pVIII suggests that the C-terminus of pVIII interacts with Hexon. Based on yeast II hybrid screening assay, we identified the cellular protein DDX3 as an interacting protein partner of pVIII. Earlier, targeting of DDX3 by few viral proteins has defined its role in mRNA transport (Yedavalli et al., 2004) and induction of interferon production (Schroder et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2009). Here, we provide evidence regarding the involvement of DDX3 in cap dependent cellular mRNA translation and show that targeting of DDX3 by the adenovirus pVIII protein abolishes cap-dependent mRNA translation function of DDX3 in virus infected cells. Adenovirus late protein pVIII interacts with DDX3 in transfected and bovine adenovirus (BAdV-3) infected cells. pVIII inhibited capped mRNA translation in-vitro and in-vivo by limiting the amount of DDX3 and eIF3. Diminished amount of DDX3 and eIFs including eIF3, eIF4E and PABP were present in cap binding complex in BAdV-3 infected or pVIII transfected cells with no trace of pVIII in the cap binding complex. The total amount of eIFs appeared similar in uninfected or BAdV-3 infected cells. The co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicated the absence of direct interaction between pVIII and eIF3, eIF4E or PABP. These data indicate that interaction of pVIII with DDX3 depletes eIF3, eIF4E and PABP from the cap-binding complex. We conclude that DDX3 promotes cap-dependent cellular mRNA translation and BAdV-3 pVIII inhibits translation of capped cellular mRNA by excluding functional cap-binding complex from the capped cellular mRNA. BAdV-3 infection of DDX3 positive cells significantly inhibits cellular protein synthesis at late times post-infection. Interestingly, knockdown of DDX3 resulted in significant reduction in virus yield and expression of BAdV-3 late proteins at late times post-infection. Our results suggest that selective translation of BAdV-3 late mRNAs observed at late time post-infection of DDX3 positive cells is abrogated in DDX3 knock down cells. Moreover, the reduction in the extent of protein synthesis is evidenced by less functional 80S and polysomes in pVIII expressing plasmid transfected cells. Alternatively, DDX3 and pVIII binds to BAdV-3 tripartite leader (TPL) and the translation of mRNAs containing TPL at their 5’ ends is enhanced in the presence of pVIII and DDX3 proteins. From this observation, we concluded that pVIII and DDX-3 might promote the translation of late viral mRNAs by interacting with TPL.

The interest for doing business with China is increasing constantly. Demands from customers and financial limitations force companies to seek more cost effective solutions to make their businesses profitable. Moving production to or just buying ready made products from China is an alternative that meet these requirements. This thesis examines four SME’s (small and medium sized enterprises) on their mission to find a producer in China and how their import process is set up. With the goal to identify and analyse the aspects of the import process, the authors hope to provide a broader understanding on how trading with China works. Using a qualitative study, with in-depth interviews, the authors could reach down to the actual feelings and experience of the interviewed subjects. They gave a picture of China being a country surprisingly easy to deal with although they had not all found their producers in the same way. Concluding that acting friendly and ethically will take an importer far, theory of Chinese business culture is somewhat disregarded as important knowledge. Each company’s network looks different. Comparing these to what is written is interesting as it shows that all companies do not need great help to succeed with the import process. When dealing with logistics, surprisingly few problems have been caused even though the great distance between Sweden and China. When it comes to the product quality, it is experienced as good even though many have presumptions about Chinese products.

Advanced technology plays a more and more important role in economic growth. With increasing international transactions, technology spillover between countries is becoming more important for especially developing countries. The main objective of this essay is to investigate the relationship between labor productivity and technological spillovers measured by Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), import and Research and Development expenditure (R&amp;D). We use data covering 41 developing countries for the time period 2005 to 2008 to assess the extent to which technological spillovers from US influence labor productivity in the selected developing countries. Our results show that the relationship between technological spillovers and labor productivity in developing countries are highly sensitive to model specification and estimation techniques. Simple pooled data estimations revels a clear relation between technological spillover an labor productivity while more complex models such as  dynamic panel data models fails in this task.

Darbe išanalizuota kaip surenkami ir apdorojami užsienio prekybos statistikos duomenys, jų surinkimo ir apskaitos tvarką reglamentuojantys teisės aktai. Aptartos duomenų surinkimo sistemos (Ekstrastatas ir Intrastatas) ir prekybos sistemos (Bendroji ir Specialioji). Išnagrinėti prekių klasifikatoriai, eksportuojamų ir importuojamų prekių vieneto vertės ir kainų indeksai. Išanalizuoti užsienio prekybos duomenys. Tarptautinės prekybos duomenys apima dvi dalis: prekybą su ES šalimis ir prekybą su ne ES šalimis. Duomenis surinkti padeda Intrastato ir Ekstrastato duomenų surinkimo sistemos, kurių duomenų šaltinis yra Intrastato ataskaitos ir Bendrasis administracinis dokumentas. Už duomenų surinkimą Lietuvoje yra atsakinga muitinė. Surinkti duomenys perduodami Statistikos departamentui, kur jie apdorojami remiantis Specialiosios prekybos sistemos taisyklėmis. Pagrindinis kriterijus, kuriuo remiantis prekių srautai skirstomi į eksportą ir importą, yra muitinės procedūra. Eksportuotos ir importuotos prekės yra klasifikuojamos pagal Kombinuotąja nomenklatūrą. Papildomai prekės grupuojamos pagal klasifikatorius: Standartizuotą tarptautinę prekybos klasifikaciją (SITC), Makroekonomikos kategorijų klasifikaciją (BEC), ekonominės veiklos rūšių klasifikaciją (NACE), produktų pagal veiklos rūšis klasifikaciją (CPA)ir kt. Taip pat darbe išnagrinėti kainų indeksai, nes analizuojant tarptautinės prekybos duomenis, ne visada užtenka nustatyti prekybos apyvartos pasikeitimą, kadangi ją gali... [to full text] / In this work you can find analysis on ways how foreign trade statistical data are collected and processed, it also comprises analysis of basic law acts made on foreign trade statistical data collection and accounting. It is discussed external trade data collection systems (Extrastat and Intrastat) and trade systems (General and Special). The goods’ classifiers, unit value and price indices of exported and imported goods are examined. The analyses with real foreign trade statistical data are made.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe „Lietuvos užsienio prekyba Europos Sąjungos kontekste“ nagrinėjama užsienio prekyba Lietuvoje ir jos kitimas 1990 – 2005 metų laikotarpyje. Nagrinėjamu laikotarpiu reformų pagrindu įvykęs ūkio nuosmukis ir Rusijos krizė neigiamai įtakojo užsienio prekybą, todėl jos apimtys krito. 2000 m. ekonominis nuosmukis baigėsi. Lietuvos gamintojai perorientavo prekybos srautus iš Rytų į Vakarų valstybes. Užsienio prekyba augo intensyviai, kol 2005 m. pasiek÷ aukščiausią lygį. Prekybos liberalizavimas, įstojimas į ES, PPO turėjo teigiamos įtakos importo ir eksporto plėtrai. Darbo objektas – Lietuvos užsienio prekyba 1990 – 2005 metais. Darbo tikslas – remiantis statistiniais matematiniais metodais pagal užsienio prekybos statistinius duomenis išanalizuoti Lietuvos užsienio prekybos kitimo tendencijas ir jų priežastis, įvertinti užsienio prekybos pokyčius integruojantis į ES bendrąją rinką, nustatyti prekių grupių, šalių ir šalių grupių įtaką užsienio prekybai. Darbas susideda iš dviejų dalių: teorinės ir tiriamosios dalies. Darbo rezultatai pateikiami suformuluojant išvadas ir teikiant pasiūlymus. Darbe pateiktos 8 diagramos ir 19 priedų. Teorinėje dalyje apžvelgiama užsienio prekybos istorija, jos teorijos, tyrimo metodai, konkurencingumas, eksportą ir importą įtakojantys veiksniai, laisvosios prekybos poveikis užsienio prekybai. Analitinėje darbo dalyje apžvelgiama eksporto ir importo dinamika bei jų pokyčių pagrindiniai veiksniai. Taikant matematinius... [to full text] / Foreign trade and its’ dynamics tendencies of Lithuania is analyzed in this final work of master in 1990 – 2005. Economics recession and Russia crisis has a negative impact on foreign trade of Lithuania. The decline in trade reduced its volume. Foreign trade was on the increase in 2000 – 2005. Lithuanian manufacturers have found market in the West countries. The volume of trade reached the new high level in 2005. Entry to European Union (EU), World Trade Organization (WTO) and trade liberality had a positive impact to export and import expansion. The work object is Lithuanian foreign trade in 1990 – 2005. The main aim of this work is to analyze foreign trade dynamic tendencies; to assess foreign trade changes in the process of integration to EU market, to assess the influence of exported and imported commodity groups, states and states groups to Lithuanian foreign trade. The final work contains two parts: theory and practice. There are 8 diagrams in this work. There are deductions, recommendations, literature and 19 appendices at the end of this final work. There is reviewed foreign trade history, theories, research methods, competitive abilities, influence factors of export and import, free trade demand and supply in the first (theory) part. There is analyzed export, import dynamics and their main factors in the second (practice) part of the work. Computing statistical mathematical methods and calculations there was used factorial – indexation (correlation) analysis to... [to full text]

Užsienio prekyba yra būtina rinkos ekonomikos sąlygomis. Šiandiena be užsienio prekybos plėtros yra neįmanoma pasaulinė ekonomikos raida. Užsienio prekyba daro tiesioginę įtaką šalies vidaus rinkai: aktyvėja konkurencija, nes atsiranda pajėgūs konkurentai iš užsienio. Padidėjusi konkurencija verčia vietiniam gamintojams konkuruoti ne tik kainomis, bet prekės kokybe, dizainu ir pan. Tarptautinė prekyba – tai apsikeitimas prekėmis ir paslaugomis tarp valstybių. Tarptautinė prekyba įpareigoja šalis gauti tam tikrą prekių ir paslaugų pigiau, negu jos pačios gali pasigaminti (lyginamasis pranašumas), arba sudaro sąlygas vartoti prekes ir paslaugas, kurių nebūtų galima gauti iš savo šalies tiekėjų (pavyzdžiui, mažai žaliavų arba pažangesnė technologija). Lietuvos vykdoma ekonominė politika šiuo metu grindžiama į eksportą orientuotos plėtros modeliu. Tikėtina, jog ateityje stiprės lietuviškų produktų skverbimasis į naujas ES ir pasaulio rinkas, ypač bus didelė paklausa geros kokybės ekologiškiems ir natūraliems maisto produktams. Lietuvos eksporto apimtys per pastaruosius šešis metus išaugo 130,87 proc. t.y. nuo 14,1 mlrd. Lt 2000 m. iki 32.76 mlrd. Lt 2005 m. 2004 m. gegužės mėn. Lietuva tapo Europos Sąjungos (toliau – ES) nare. ES iš penkiolikos šalių (ES-15) tapo dvidešimt penkių šalių grupe (ES-25). Lietuvos integracija į ES paveikė visą Lietuvos ūkį, įskaitant ir Lietuvos užsienio prekybinius santykius. Apie teigiamą integracijos į ES įtaką šalies užsienio prekybos plėtrai... [to full text] / The policy of economics of Lithuania is based on the model of expansion orientated to the export. It is credible that entering of Lithuanian production to new markets of European Union and entire world will strengthen in future, also the demand of good quality ecological and natural foodstuff will be especially great. The range of the export of Lithuania has grown for 130, 87 per cent, that is from 14, 1 billion of litas in the year of 2000 up to 32, 76 billion of litas in the year of 2005. Lithuania became the member of European Union (EU) on March of 2004. EU earlier consisted of 15 states members (EU-15) became a group of 25 states (EU-25). The integration of Lithuania to EU had influenced all economy / farm of Lithuania including commercial relations with foreign countries. The growth of ranges of the export shows positive influence of the integration to EU on state’s expansion of foreign trade. The export has grown for 24, 2 per cent comparing first half-year of 2004 and first half-year of 2005. According to analysis of goods structure of the export of period of 2000 – 2005 the greatest part of the export was composed of mineral products – 176, 4 per cent, machines and mechanisms – 151, 8 per cent, transport and transport equipment – 161, 60 per cent. The range of the import of Lithuania within last six years has grown for 97, 7 per cent, that is from 21, 8 billion of litas in the year of 2000 up to 43, 1 billion of litas in the year of 2005. According to goods... [to full text]