The study of the extent to which incoming FDI results in ‘spillovers’ (technology, R&D, management practices and know-how) has so far yielded only mixed results, and research has largely been restricted to north-north and north-south interactions; this study develops a model of knowledge spillovers based on previous literature and extends inquiry into south-south FDI by investigating spillovers from Chinese FDI to the Cambodian garment and light manufacturing industries. Several significant factors including the nature and extent of FDI linkages, local industry absorptive capacity, nature of the network relationship, and local firms’ learning orientation have been found to influence the extent to which knowledge spillovers occur. These variables are integrated within this paper which develops a conceptual model of knowledge spillovers based on the Awareness-Motivation- Capability framework to examine knowledge spillovers derived through both horizontal and vertical linkages. One area of interest examined in the study is the FDI influence on domestic firms’ export performance since light manufacturing represents the most significant portion of Cambodia's total export products. The thesis, addresses two primary questions: (1) when, where and under what conditions are significant knowledge spillovers created? And (2) what are the effects of the spillovers on domestic companies' technological capability and export performance? The research contributes to the previous literature by further developing the theory on the realisation of knowledge spillovers as well as exploring the nature and channels of knowledge spillovers from South-South FDI in labour-intensive industry, an area of study previously unexplored. Our results show that knowledge spillovers occur through both horizontal and vertical linkages and Cambodian firms receive more spillovers from Chinese FDI than they do from FDI from developed countries.

The privileges of integration with the global economy have led developing countries to embark on a path of liberalisation and globalisation. This resulted in rapid growth of inward and outward foreign direct investment from developing countries. In the last two decades there is an increasing trend of outward FDI from developing countries to both developed and developing countries. This dissertation focuses on exploring the literature on outward FDI from developing countries, and internationalisation process of developing country multinationals which are considered to be carriers to investment across international borders. The study has examined the two main strands of literature on outward FDI from developing countries – determinants of outward FDI and internationalisation process. Findings of the systematic review show that there is a dearth of studies in this area of research. Except a number of studies on China and countries of East and South East Asia, there is very limited evidence on outward FDI from developing countries. There is a set of studies on Africa that examine South-South investment flows. Studies on other major developing countries are either non-existent or lack in comprehensiveness. Some studies resulted in contradictory findings about the determinants of outward FDI. This raises the question of sensitivity of variables across geographical locations and time periods, which has not been researched before. Studies on outward FDI also do not make a clear distinction between South-South and South-North FDI flows. Other aspects like sovereign wealth funds and commodity price boom have been ignored in the literature. It is important to investigate outward FDI flows from the major developing economies because of its sheer scope to contribute to academic literature, its policy implications, and also because of its potential to bring development to some of the most impoverished parts of the world.