The export performance of Africa has declined over the past couple of decades as a result of an increase in trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction. As a result of an increase in competition, countries need to improve their efforts in adopting and developing a trade development initiative. Trade facilitation has been recognised as an element of economic growth, and it is thus seen as the most prominent trade development initiative in stimulating exports. The general objective of this study was to investigate the current state and effect of trade facilitation in South Africa and to develop a measurement to compare South Africa's state of trade facilitation performance with that of other countries in the world. The purpose of this study was to analyse and present the importance of implementing a trade facilitation programme as a trade development initiative. The need to eliminate trade barriers such as increased trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction were emphasised because of the threat that they pose to efficient trade facilitation reform. Although the advantages of trade facilitation reform have long been recognised, studies on the measurement of trade facilitation are very scarce. Similar studies make use of a gravity model or a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model in order to quantify the effects, but due to indirect costs, statistical errors, incorrect proxies and other unrecognised variables, no exact index exists to measure the trade facilitation performance of world countries. Four very relevant trade performance indexes, the Logistics Performance Index, the Doing Business Report, the Enabling Trade Index and the Global Competitiveness Report, are associated with measuring a country's domestic trade variables, present in either the "hard" or the "soft" infrastructure of a country. From these indexes, 18 relevant variables were chosen that were effectively used to construct the Trade Facilitation Index whereby the trade facilitation performance of world countries was compared to that of South Africa. In South Africa, the urgency to improve the general trade environment has been recognised as trade performance in South Africa has declined considerably. Based on the relevance of trade facilitation and the beneficial effects it has on a country, the role of trade facilitation in South Africa was analysed, as well as its performance in the Trade Facilitation Index in comparison to that of other world countries. The Trade Facilitation Index also correlates to a country's GDP and its exports, proving that an increase in the Trade Facilitation Index may lead to an increase in the country's GDP and also its exports. The Trade Facilitation Index therefore serves as a useful resource for policy makers who want to apply reform strategies to trade development initiatives. / MCom (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The export performance of Africa has declined over the past couple of decades as a result of an increase in trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction. As a result of an increase in competition, countries need to improve their efforts in adopting and developing a trade development initiative. Trade facilitation has been recognised as an element of economic growth, and it is thus seen as the most prominent trade development initiative in stimulating exports. The general objective of this study was to investigate the current state and effect of trade facilitation in South Africa and to develop a measurement to compare South Africa's state of trade facilitation performance with that of other countries in the world. The purpose of this study was to analyse and present the importance of implementing a trade facilitation programme as a trade development initiative. The need to eliminate trade barriers such as increased trade costs and the time taken to complete a trade transaction were emphasised because of the threat that they pose to efficient trade facilitation reform. Although the advantages of trade facilitation reform have long been recognised, studies on the measurement of trade facilitation are very scarce. Similar studies make use of a gravity model or a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model in order to quantify the effects, but due to indirect costs, statistical errors, incorrect proxies and other unrecognised variables, no exact index exists to measure the trade facilitation performance of world countries. Four very relevant trade performance indexes, the Logistics Performance Index, the Doing Business Report, the Enabling Trade Index and the Global Competitiveness Report, are associated with measuring a country's domestic trade variables, present in either the "hard" or the "soft" infrastructure of a country. From these indexes, 18 relevant variables were chosen that were effectively used to construct the Trade Facilitation Index whereby the trade facilitation performance of world countries was compared to that of South Africa. In South Africa, the urgency to improve the general trade environment has been recognised as trade performance in South Africa has declined considerably. Based on the relevance of trade facilitation and the beneficial effects it has on a country, the role of trade facilitation in South Africa was analysed, as well as its performance in the Trade Facilitation Index in comparison to that of other world countries. The Trade Facilitation Index also correlates to a country's GDP and its exports, proving that an increase in the Trade Facilitation Index may lead to an increase in the country's GDP and also its exports. The Trade Facilitation Index therefore serves as a useful resource for policy makers who want to apply reform strategies to trade development initiatives. / MCom (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Η διαχείριση της γνώσης (knowledge management) αποτελεί ένα σύγχρονο ερευνητικό πεδίο με μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον, τόσο για τον επιχειρηματικό όσο και για τον ακαδημαϊκό κόσμο. Σήμερα, ο τρόπος με τον οποίο οι διάφοροι οικονομικοί οργανισμοί διαχειρίζονται την επιχειρησιακή γνώση καθορίζει το πλαίσιο της επιτυχίας ή της αποτυχίας τους. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία αποτελεί μια προσπάθεια επιβεβαίωσης και επέκτασης της υπάρχουσας θεωρίας που αφορά στη Διαχείριση της Γνώσης. Μέσα από τη σύνθεση προηγούμενων θεωρητικών και εμπειρικών δεδομένων δημιουργήθηκε ένα Εννοιολογικό Πλαίσιο που εξετάζει την επίδραση μίας από τις πιο σημαντικές διαδικασίες της διαχείρισης της γνώσης, αυτή της Διάχυσης της Γνώσης (Knowledge Sharing), στις ελληνικές εξαγωγικές επιχειρήσεις. Γίνεται μία προσπάθεια αποτύπωσης των πρακτικών διάχυσης γνώσης, που εφαρμόζουν οι ελληνικές εξαγωγικές επιχειρήσεις, τόσο στο εσωτερικό τους, όσο και με τους διανομείς / πελάτες τους στο εξωτερικό. Το συγκεκριμένο Εννοιολογικό Πλαίσιο ελέγχτηκε, με την χρήση ερωτηματολογίου, σε ένα δείγμα 71 ελληνικών εξαγωγικών επιχειρήσεων. Τα δεδομένα αναλύθηκαν με το Spss 20 και η μέθοδος που χρησιμοποιήθηκε είναι η παραγοντική ανάλυση. / Knowledge management is a contemporary research area of great interest, both to the business and the academic world. Nowadays, the way in which various financial organizations manage operational knowledge determines their success or failure. The present study constitutes an effort to confirm and extend the existing theory on Knowledge Management. Through the synthesis of previous theoretical and empirical data we created a Conceptual framework which examines the effect of one of the most important processes of knowledge management, Knowledge Sharing, in the Greek export business. An attempt was made to define the ways in which knowledge sharing is applied by the Greek export companies, both internally as well as with their distributors / customers abroad. This Conceptual framework was checked, using a questionnaire to a sample of 71 Greek export companies. The data were analyzed by using the Spss 20 and Factor analysis method was used to identify the factors.

Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2017. / This study examines the relationship between major commodity exports and the real exchange rate of commodity exporting countries. We make use of monthly commodity price time series data to determine the causality relationship between exchange rates and the top three commodity exports from 5 commodity exporting countries (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Norway and South Africa). Due to the phenomenon called “Dutch Disease” commodity exporting countries’ economies are found not to experience large economic success during periods of booming export commodity prices. Using data from the IMF IFS database, only one country out of the five included in this study shows evidence of conitegration relationship between commodity prices and exchange rates, although there is some evidence of commodity prices explaining the movement of exchange rates in all five countries. We find that commodity prices do play a role in the exchange rates movement in commodity exporting countries. / MT2017

[pt] De uma posição deficitária antes da desvalorização de 1999, a balança comercial brasileira passou a relativo equilíbrio e, a partir de 2002, a superávits expressivos, relacionados principalmente ao grande crescimento das exportações em um contexto de apreciação cambial. Avaliando o quantum de exportações e importações entre janeiro de 1999 e dezembro de 2005, este trabalho procurou avaliar o desempenho do comércio brasileiro a partir de três proposições gerais: (i) outros fatores podem ter sido tão ou mais importante que o câmbio; (ii) há defasagens na reação do quantum comercializado frente a mudanças nas variáveis explicativas; (iii) há diferenças de comportamento entre o total e as desagregações, tanto no longo como no curto prazo. Em relação às exportações, as elasticidades de demanda estimadas para o longo prazo sugeriram que os preços de exportação e a renda externa tiveram efeito sobre as quantidades, sendo a última relevante também no curto prazo. As elasticidades de oferta, estimadas para o longo prazo, sugeriram que o câmbio, a abertura comercial e os preços de exportação foram determinantes na escolha da firma representativa. Para o período analisado, houve evidência de que a demanda foi mais importante do que a oferta, com os efeitos da renda externa e dos preços de exportação sobrepondose aos da apreciação cambial. Em relação às importações, as elasticidades de demanda estimadas para o longo prazo indicaram maior importância da absorção doméstica e da taxa de câmbio frente a outras variáveis; no curto prazo, a última parece ter sido a variável mais relevante. / [en] From a negative position before the devaluation of 1999, the Brazilian trade balance went to relative equilibrium and, after 2002, to consistent surpluses, mostly related to the huge growth in exports, in a context of exchange rate appreciation. Evaluating exports and imports´ volumes between January 1999 and December 2005, this work seeks to understand Brazilian foreign trade considering three general hypothesis: (i) other variables could have been as or more important than exchange rates; (ii) traded quantum reacts with some delay to changes at the explanatory variables; (iii) aggregated and disaggregated quantum have different behaviors both in long and short run. Regarding exports, long run demand elasticities suggest that export prices and foreign income affect volumes, the latter being also relevant in the short run. Supply elasticities, only for the long run, suggest that exchange rates, trade openness and export prices are relevant for the representative firm s decision. For the period considered, there was evidence that demand is more important than supply, with foreign income and export prices effects overriding exchange rate appreciation. Regarding imports, long run elasticities of demand indicate a greater importance of domestic income and exchange rates compared to other variables. Nonetheless, in the short run, the latter seem to be the most important variable.

La charla abarcó las diversas funciones que realiza la SUNAT en materia aduanera así como los principales regímenes aduaneros vinculados al ingreso y salida de mercancías.

As micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs), foco desta pesquisa, apresentam características peculiares em comparação às empresas de maior porte. O número de MPEs brasileiras, industriais e exportadoras vem aumentando nos últimos anos, assim como a continuidade de suas atividades exportadoras, configurando um novo panorama para este tipo de empresas. A participação destas empresas no volume de exportação total do país ainda é muito pequena (aproximadamente 2,4%, em 2003), para padrões internacionais (SEBRAE, 2004). MPEs buscam mercados distintos daqueles procurados pelas empresas de maior porte. Esta pesquisa aborda os fatores (obstáculos e motivações) explicativos da participação das empresas de menor porte nas atividades de exportação brasileiras. Para tal, foram analisados dados secundários e primários no intuito de realizar-se uma triangulação destes dados e chegar-se aos resultados e conclusões. Os dados primários foram obtidos através de uma survey e de entrevistas em profundidade com micro e pequenos empresários de MPEs que exportam. Os resultados mostram que as MPEs são mais motivadas, na exportação, por fatores conjunturais como melhores preços e escoamento de excedentes, apesar de as pequenas empresas começarem a ser incentivadas por fatores de longo prazo (como, por exemplo, aprendizado com clientes e concorrentes externos). Quanto aos obstáculos, a pesquisa demonstrou que para os micro e pequenos empresários as barreiras ambientais como política cambial, excesso de burocracia e dificuldades logísticas são os principais entraves nas exportações das MPEs. Os esforços de entidades públicas e privadas e das próprias MPEs para elevar as exportações também são analisados neste trabalho. / Despite its apparent simplicity, exportation has been deeply studied in the last decades and researchers have not yet come to a consensus. The literature cannot yet explain why some firms succeed while others fail to export and how the perception of motivations and barriers varies amongst different types of firms. This thesis focuses on small companies, which probably face more barriers and perceive less advantages and motivations to export than bigger and more established companies, resulting in a mere 2,4% contribution to Brazilian foreign trade. Firstly, It was studied the barriers and motivations that have influence on exports. A survey was carried out with executives of small firms and the factors (motivations and barriers) were ranked based on the perception of importance of each one. Secondly, it was tested whether the relative score given by respondents varies according to industry, target market, frequency of exports, international experience and entry mode. The results show that small firms are usually motivated by short term incentives like better prices or international sales of production surplus. Nevertheless, some firms start to be motivated by long term incentives like learning with foreign clients and competitors. Disadvantageous currency policy, high level of bureaucracy and poor transportation infrastructure are considered the strongest barriers. These findings suggest that both public and private social action is required. It is described in this document some actions in course.

The internationalization started to be seen as an opportunity for many companies, a strategic way to grow; therefore they assume different levels of commitment in the international market. This dissertation analyzes which internationalization strategies are being used by Brazilian companies in the textile industry and why these companies have chosen these strategies along the time line. The chosen method is a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews. The companies chosen are Cia. Hering, Dudalina and Karsten; all three have long history in the textile industry and started to export at least more than 30 years ago. Analyzing the companies within the frame of Kraus theory (2000, 2006), it was possible found that the main strategies along the time were: exporting via private label manufacturing, FDI, exporting the own brand and franchising. The internationalization strategies of the companies in the beginning were related to the significant production capacity that boosted their exports, mainly exporting private label. Another remarkable fact was the positive moment of the Brazilian economy that facilitated their exports. Enjoying the positive moment, Cia. Hering and Karsten reached the most committed level of involvement in international operations. With no consolidate brand abroad therefore the Asian competition and not favorable currency exchange rates, they had to return and operate mainly to the domestic market. The companies had no consolidate strategy in the beginning; nevertheless now, all them are concerned in building stronger brands than in past, since they are leaving or at least decreasing the private label exports. The companies have changed focus from production to the market.

As micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs), foco desta pesquisa, apresentam características peculiares em comparação às empresas de maior porte. O número de MPEs brasileiras, industriais e exportadoras vem aumentando nos últimos anos, assim como a continuidade de suas atividades exportadoras, configurando um novo panorama para este tipo de empresas. A participação destas empresas no volume de exportação total do país ainda é muito pequena (aproximadamente 2,4%, em 2003), para padrões internacionais (SEBRAE, 2004). MPEs buscam mercados distintos daqueles procurados pelas empresas de maior porte. Esta pesquisa aborda os fatores (obstáculos e motivações) explicativos da participação das empresas de menor porte nas atividades de exportação brasileiras. Para tal, foram analisados dados secundários e primários no intuito de realizar-se uma triangulação destes dados e chegar-se aos resultados e conclusões. Os dados primários foram obtidos através de uma survey e de entrevistas em profundidade com micro e pequenos empresários de MPEs que exportam. Os resultados mostram que as MPEs são mais motivadas, na exportação, por fatores conjunturais como melhores preços e escoamento de excedentes, apesar de as pequenas empresas começarem a ser incentivadas por fatores de longo prazo (como, por exemplo, aprendizado com clientes e concorrentes externos). Quanto aos obstáculos, a pesquisa demonstrou que para os micro e pequenos empresários as barreiras ambientais como política cambial, excesso de burocracia e dificuldades logísticas são os principais entraves nas exportações das MPEs. Os esforços de entidades públicas e privadas e das próprias MPEs para elevar as exportações também são analisados neste trabalho. / Despite its apparent simplicity, exportation has been deeply studied in the last decades and researchers have not yet come to a consensus. The literature cannot yet explain why some firms succeed while others fail to export and how the perception of motivations and barriers varies amongst different types of firms. This thesis focuses on small companies, which probably face more barriers and perceive less advantages and motivations to export than bigger and more established companies, resulting in a mere 2,4% contribution to Brazilian foreign trade. Firstly, It was studied the barriers and motivations that have influence on exports. A survey was carried out with executives of small firms and the factors (motivations and barriers) were ranked based on the perception of importance of each one. Secondly, it was tested whether the relative score given by respondents varies according to industry, target market, frequency of exports, international experience and entry mode. The results show that small firms are usually motivated by short term incentives like better prices or international sales of production surplus. Nevertheless, some firms start to be motivated by long term incentives like learning with foreign clients and competitors. Disadvantageous currency policy, high level of bureaucracy and poor transportation infrastructure are considered the strongest barriers. These findings suggest that both public and private social action is required. It is described in this document some actions in course.

La quinua es un producto que ha ido tomando importancia a nivel mundial por el gran aporte nutricional que brinda, siendo Perú, Bolivia y Ecuador los principales productores tradicionales de este grano. La adaptabilidad que tiene la quinua ha generado que países asiáticos, europeos y americanos estén interesados en el cultivo de este producto para su producción y consumo interno. Bolivia hasta el 2014 fue el principal abastecedor de quinua orgánica a nivel mundial, pero a nichos específicos, siendo esta una de las razones por las que Perú lo desplazó convirtiéndose en el principal exportador y productor de quinua. El mercado de quinua sufrió una sobreoferta, ocasionando que en el 2015 los precios cayeran generando una baja de las exportaciones, sin embargo, en el 2017 ha ido mejorando poco a poco por la demanda de los países como E.E. U.U y la U.E. Finalmente, este estudio determina los principales factores que afectan la competitividad de las exportaciones de quinua de la industria agrícola de Perú en el periodo 2012 - 2017 de manera mensual, aplicando para el análisis el índice de ventaja comparativa revelada dada por Bela Balassa. Se concluye que los factores que influyen en la competitividad son exportación de quinua, productividad y producción, dejando en un segundo plano las variables precio de exportación, precio de productor y superficie cosechada. Además, se recomienda elevar dichos factores de competitividad para que el Perú mantenga su liderazgo como productor y exportador de quinua. / Quinoa is a product that has been gaining relevance worldwide because the nutritional contribution it provides. Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador are the main traditional producers. The adaptability that has quinoa has generated that Asian, European and American countries are interested in the cultivation of this for its production and internal consumption. Until 2014, Bolivia was the main supplier of organic quinoa, but only to specific sectors, this was one of the reasons why Peru replaced it, becoming the main exporter and producer of quinoa. In 2015, the quinoa market suffered an oversupply, due to this the prices fell, and the exports dropped, however, in 2017, exportation of quinoa has been improving due to the demand of EE. UU and U.E. Finally, this study determines the main factors that affect the competitiveness of quinoa exports of Peru’s agricultural industry in the period 2012-2017 on a monthly basis, applying for the analysis the revealed comparative advantage index given by Bela Balassa. It is concluded that the factors that influence competitiveness are export of quinoa, productivity and production, leaving in the background the variables export price, producer price and harvested area. In addition, it is recommended to raise these competitiveness factors so that Peru maintains its leadership as a producer and exporter of quinoa. / Tesis