As rápidas e abrangentes mudanças nos mercados mundiais e regionais de vinhos, com significativos impactos sobre algumas vinícolas, estimularam a realização deste estudo. O objetivo central é analisar as exportações de vinhos brasileiros pós-plano real, a atuação das empresas vinícolas no mercado internacional de vinhos bem como as estratégias e perspectivas do setor. A globalização e a formação de novos mercados como o Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul), União Européia e ALCA, afetaram, de forma direta ou indireta, as estratégias do setor. As ações estratégicas também foram moldadas e seus retornos influenciados pelo ambiente e cultura do país. Com relação ao conteúdo das estratégias, cabe ressaltar que as estratégias de produtos e produção tiveram comportamento semelhante em todas as vinícolas participantes da pesquisa; quanto às alianças estratégicas, constata-se que oito delas realizaram algum tipo de aliança. Também foi possível detectar que todas as estratégias estão inter-relacionadas, tendo em vista os objetivos do setor de vinhos. Pôde-se concluir que, o setor está em processo de implementação do Plano de Desenvolvimento Estratégico “Visão 2025”. / The fast and wide-ranging changes in wine local and world market as well as its significant impact on some wineries, have encouraged this study. The main objective is the analysis on exports of Brazilian wines after the so called ‘Plano Real’, the government’s economical-financial plan, the analysis of performances on international wine markets, strategies and perspectives for the sector. Globalization and formation of new markets as the Mercosul - Southern Common Market, EU - European Union and, FTTS, Free Trade Area of Americas have directly or indirectly affected strategies on the sector. Strategical actions have also been adapted and its incomes influenced by the environment and culture of the country. About the contents of strategies it is worth mentioning that strategies for products and production were similar in all wineries. As for strategical alliances, eight of the wineries have taken part on any. It was also possible to detect that all the strategies are inter-related, given the objectives of the wine sector. We could conclude that the sector is implementing the Strategical Development Plan ‘Visão 2025’ which is being elaborated by the winery sector.

The research problem addressed in this study is to determine the potential of selling and marketing consumer goods by Multinational Enterprises (MNE) within the African markets. The mode of entry, the timing of entry, the different modes of entry, selection of the entry mode, the political and economic risks, core competencies of the company and strategic alliance was researched. To achieve this, research was executed on the above areas of importance using relevant literature in which an understanding of the international markets and their options of modes of entry were highlighted. In this way one is able to understand the importance of the international markets and the concerns of doing business in Africa in order to select the entry mode that could best suit the company and the country or countries in Africa. The literature study was then used to develop a questionnaire to test the degree to which managers in MNE in South Africa (SA) and Central East Africa (CEA) concur with regard to the decisions, risks, procedure, modes of entry and selection of modes of entry into Africa. The empirical results obtained indicate a strong concurrence with the analysis of the modes of entry into CEA market for an MNE. The analysis of the literature study, Chapter 2 and 3, gives business a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the problems and opportunities associated with the entry decisions into CEA. Many other companies are entering the African markets from other parts of the world and SA has also been seen as a launching pad into Africa. The analysis will give companies the edge in seeing the problems and opportunities in African markets and the way forward when deciding to enter.

Trading companies have played and continue to play significant and strategic roles in international trade, supporting the export of manufacturers and the import of purchasing companies. The transaction costs economics, indicated that the role of trading companies is reducing the transaction costs during export. However, the rise of transition economies, such as China, which has become one of the most important players in international trade, leads to two gaps in existing studies. First, the trading companies from these countries and regions have been kept as a “black box”, compared with relative numerous studies on developed countries. Second, the local institutions, which are considered as main determinants on business models in transition economies, are most likely to affect the transaction costs during export, and trading companies’ characteristics and their methods of reducing transaction costs. Therefore, the aims of this study were to explore these institution-related transaction costs in China’s export market, and how Chinese ETCs operate one more efficient indirect export market compared with one direct market between domestic manufacturers and foreign buyers. Correspondingly, the main research questions were: 1) what are the institutions, which generate transaction costs for domestic manufacturers and foreign buyers, in China’s export market? And 2) how do Chinese exporting trading companies respond to such institution-related costs as an intermediary between domestic manufacturers and foreign buyers. A qualitative multiple-case approach was chosen. Six Chinese ETCs were selected, with their export processes as embedded units. The main sources of data included semi-conducted interviews and in-depth field observation. In addition, secondary data, such as newspapers, industrial reports, also contributed to the context of the cases. With one integrative analytical framework, this study identified a couple of institutional constraints in China’s export markets, including the bureaucratic procedures and administrative approvals, inefficient legal system and informal contract obligation, and long-term OEM trading methods. These institutions were involved in the whole procedure of export transaction, from the manufacturing by domestic manufacturers to the purchase by the foreign buyers and generated additional transaction costs in different steps, ranging from search, negotiation, to enforcement. Even though the transaction costs were greatly increased because of the export-related institutional constraints, the findings further reveal that Chinese ETCs can reduce these institution-related transaction costs by a series of effective methods, such as acquirement of knowledge on administrative procedures, collection of information on production, vertical integration, offering supplementary functions for dysfunctional domestic manufacturers and so on. The relevant explanations are twofold. As explained in traditional economic theories, Chinese ETCs’ also relied on economies of scale to reduce institution-related transaction costs. Moreover, Chinese ETCs adopted some approaches affiliated to export-related institutions, such as long-term reselling system and monopoly of export authority in history in China’s export market, and this is the first time that institutional perspective were applied to explain the transaction behaviour of trading companies. To sum up, this study extends our understanding of Chinese export trading companies and export-related institutions in China’s export market, enhances traditional transaction costs analysis on trading companies by adding the perspective from foreign buyers, and integrates institutional perspective into transaction costs analysis to better explain ETCs’ business model in transition economies. Last but not least, the findings in this study are also helpful for practitioners and policy-makers from transition economies in order to improve their export performance and local export-related institutional arrangements.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / In line with neoclassical economic growth propositions that outward-orientation fosters economic growth, since independence from Britain in 1964 the Government of Malawi has placed international trade at the centre of its economic development agenda. In spite of this theoretical affirmation of the trade-growth relationship, some empirical studies that have been done both in the country and abroad show contrary results. This prompted this study to be undertaken with the aim of assessing the impact of exports and imports on economic growth in Malawi from 1970 to 2010.This study has used a neoclassic economic growth model containing gross domestic product, exports, imports, capital and labour force as variables of analysis. After collecting annual time series data on the variables for the period 1970 to 2010 from the World Bank online statistical data base, Ordinary Least Squares regression and several econometric tests were run on the model to ensure robust and accurate results. Statistical accuracy of the findings was further cemented by use of the 5 percent level of significance. Exports were found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on the country’s economic growth, while imports had a negative and insignificant influence. Similarly, capital and labour force showed a positive effect on economic growth even though the capital’s effect was statistically insignificant. Nevertheless, the study also strongly confirmed the presence of a long-run equilibrium among the variables. The above results strongly suggest that Malawi should continue with its export-led economic growth strategies such as the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) and the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS). However, if the two economic development plans are to bear fruit this study strongly urges Malawi to consider diversifying its economy away from primary export production and instead embark on value-addition. Furthermore, the country should not only reduce the importation of consumer goods in favour of capital goods, but also improve the quality of the labour force and capital formation, if Malawi is to realise its economic development and poverty alleviation aspirations.

In order to reduce postharvest losses of exported Pome fruit and increase export revenue, export quality pears require a reduction in stem-end shrivelling and an extension in shelf-life, regardless of the presence or absence of refrigerated storage. A kafirin coating may fulfil these requirements during export and at the export destination, in retail and at fresh fruit markets. A two-phased approach was followed. During Phase 1, the physiological and biochemical behaviour of ’Packham’s Triumph’ pears were studied under ideal refrigerated (-0.5°C), temperature-abused (10°C) and typical ripening (20°C) conditions. These storage conditions were selected to simulate potential conditions during the export process. Phase 2 involved the development and application of a kafirin-based coating to increase the shelf-life of pears. In Phase 1, two experiments were conducted concurrently on freshly harvested, uncoated pears. In Experiment 1, pears were stored at –0.5, 10 and 20°C and 95 to 98% RH for 42, 42 and 21 d respectively. An increase in storage temperature increased the metabolic activity of the pears and the rate of quality deterioration. Very few quality changes occurred in pears during storage at -0.5°C. Pears stored at 20°C ripened and became senescent in approximately half the time taken by pears at 10°C. However, fully ripe ‘Packham’s’ pears from 10 and 20°C exhibited similar final colour and firmness values. Stem-end shrivelling was exacerbated by storage at 20°C after only 4 days but not observed during storage at -0.5 or 10°C. In Experiment 2, ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears were stored at -0.5 and 10°C (95 to 98% RH) for 42 and 35 days, respectively before being ripened at 20°C for 7 days. Storage of pears at 10°C prior to ripening accelerated softening and yellowing in the pears, when compared to pears from -0.5°C storage. Storage duration prior to ripening at 20°C also resulted in pears of increasing softness and yellowness by the end of 7 days at 20°C. The effect of storage duration at -0.5°C was less severe on the ripening rate and intensity of softening and yellowing than storage at 10°C. Thus, storage at -0.5°C extended pear shelf-life and resulted in pears of better quality after ripening than storage of pears at 10°C. In Phase 2, pears from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage were coated with a kafirin-based coating and stored at 20°C (35 to 45% RH) for 24 days. The ripening rate and the physiological behaviour and physico-chemical changes of pears used in Phase 2 were probably accelerated by 18 weeks under CA conditions and one week under RA conditions prior to the start of the shelf-life study. The kafirin coating did not retard ripening, which was probably already induced during storage before coating, but senescence in the coated pears was delayed by approximately 6 days. The rate of respiration, ethylene production, flesh softening and especially yellowing, was delayed by the coating. Coated and uncoated pears exhibited no growth of coliforms or lactic acid bacteria. Overall, coated pears had lower levels of aerobic mesophiles and yeast and mould growth than uncoated pears. Unfortunately, pear surface-shrivelling was intensified by the coating, probably due to the dehydrating action of the ethanol in the coating solution during dipping. However, the kafirin coating was able to extend pear shelf-life by delaying senescence and microbiological growth. The coating formulation may require a higher concentration of kafirin to increase its hydrophobicity and reduce pear shrivelling. The kafirin coating has possible potential to markedly extend the quality and shelf-life of ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears, provided that the pears are coated after minimal RA storage when pears are in the pre-climacteric phase. Copyright 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Buchner, S 2007, Coating of pears (Var. ‘Packhams Triumph’) with kafirin protein and its effect on postharvest physiology and shelf-life, MSc(Agric) dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02242012-113144/ > E549/gm / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Food Science / unrestricted

SME exporters constitute a critical economic force that contributes significantly to national productivity and job creation in the Canadian economy. However, the academic literature suggests that female-owned SMEs are less likely to export. With lower export propensity, the potential of female-owned SMEs for organic growth, economic self-sufficiency and wealth creation could be comprised. This paper applies logistic regression to study factors that influence SME owners’ export propensity with particular reference to the moderating effect of gender in the context of the Ajzen and Fishbein ’s (2005) theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior. We improve the methodology of prevailing research by redefining “gender” in a more appropriate way and by computing gender interaction effects more accurately. Based on this analysis, we found that, although male- and female-owned SMEs show different likelihoods of exporting, gender does not have a direct residual impact. Instead, systemic gender differences account for most differences in the export propensity between male-owned and female-owned SMEs. Specifically, female-owned SMEs may be systemically disadvantaged because their firms are smaller, more limited in management capacity with younger and less-experienced managers. The lack of resources and market knowledge become constraining factors for them with respect to becoming “export-ready”. Additionally, female SME owners show a higher perception of risk and financing difficulty (although they do not encounter higher rejection rates of financing applications). Their subjective perceptions of potential barriers may contribute to their reluctance to export.

Při porovnávání exportní výkonnosti obou zemí jsem často narážela na různé hodnoty téhož ukazatele. Možné příčiny těchto diskrepancí a obtížnost mezinárodní komparace dat jsem se snažila naznačit v úvodní části práce. Nicméně věřím, že použité údaje nikterak neznehodnocují její věrohodnost. Jedním z cílů, které jsem si v úvodu vytýčila, bylo dokázat, že má vůbec smysl obě země porovnávat. Na mnoha místech této práce se ukázalo, že existuje několik styčných bodů, které to potvrzují. Mezi ně patří i rekordní hodnota vývozu v roce 2006 a stejné tempo jeho růstu u obou zemí, podobná teritoriální a komoditní struktura a v neposlední řadě i fakt, že měly nové spolkové státy (bývalá NDR) po roce 1989 podobnou startovací pozici jako ČR, v té době ještě Československo. Ve své práci jsem věnovala pozornost především přehlednému zpracování proexportní politiky Německa s důrazem na systém tří pilířů v rámci jeho institucionální podpory ? Diplomatická zastoupení v cizině; ZHK, delegáti a reprezentanti; BFAI. Německá proexportní politika je charakteristická jasným vymezením dělby práce mezi státem a hospodářskými organizacemi. Tato vlastnost zatím není v případě ČR tak zřetelná.

Práca popisuje systém podpory exportu v ČR a predstavuje novú exportnú stratégiu pre obdobie 2006 - 2010. Detailne rozoberá a hodnotí nástroje podpory exportu, inštitúcie do proexportnej politiky zapojené a porovnáva ich s podobnými systémami na Slovensku a vo Veľkej Británii. V záverečnej časti obsahuje úvahu o budúcnosti a perspektívach proexportnej politiky a jednotlivých nástrojov osobitne.

This thesis embraces the system of state support of export in Czech republic. Basic financial and non-financial instruments of state support of export in Czech republic are introduced in particular chapters which also contains a description of institutions dealing with above mentioned instruments.

Austria, a small Central European economy belongs to the winners of globalization. Its involvement in world's international trade has been remarkable and is generally seen as one of the crucial factors of its GDP growth. Austrian exporters have become an example of efficiency for all the other in-county industries, as well as a proud of leading politicians. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce is self-managed and led by its members, not only big, but in over 90 %, small and medium size enterprises. Internationalization and the support of barrier free international trade belong among its most important goals. Therefore the Chamber of Commerce founded its International Trade Branch, which has a network of 108 offices worldwide and aims to be the world's biggest organization of a kind. This network supports Austrian entrepreneurs in developing their international business activities.