The purpose of this study was to investigate internationalisation of Ethiopian SMEs by examining internal and external factors that motivate or restrict internationalization process and the impact of internal and external barriers on SMEs export performance. The small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) sector in Ethiopia is a significant group within the economy in terms of firm numbers and total employment. However, the SMEs sector’s share of exports is disproportionately small, which raised considerable research concerns. Firm export propensity and export performance were the dependent variables and export stimuli and barrier factors were used as explanatory variables. The study was conducted through mixed research design. A questionnaire was administered to 90(36 exporting and 54 nonexporting) SMEs in Leather and Leather Products Industry in Addis Ababa selected through stratified random sampling. In order to complement survey results nine (4 exporting and 5 non-exporting) SMEs were selected through critical case purposive sampling and an in-depth interviews were conducted. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS 20) was used to analyse the quantitative data whereas, qualitative data were analysed manually. Analytical techniques used were, Chisquare test of independence, Spearman rank order correlation, factor analysis, binary logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis. The statistical results of binary logistic regression analysis and chi-square tests indicated that managerial factors, internal marketing factors and foreign government related factors, firm ownership and size are the most significant motivators of SMEs internationalisation in Ethiopia. On the contrary the result showed that, logistics problem, insufficient finance, functional barriers, lack of export knowledge and information, procedural barriers and international trade barriers are the factors hindering it. Further analysis was conducted to examine the impact of export barriers on performance of firms. The result of multiple regression analysis indicated that, export barriers significantly and negatively affect export performance. The overall results revealed that explanatory variables used in the analysis significantly predict the dependent variable at 95% confidence level. Considering these results numerous implications for theory, practice, and future research were recommended. Finally, the study concluded that internationalisation of SMEs has to be encouraged by mitigating both internal and external barriers identified in this study. / Business Management / D. Admin. (Business Management)

Risks faced by South African offshore investors is a study that seeks to identify and rank in order of importance the risks that are faced by South African offshore investors. As a global player, South African investment institutions exchange trades with institutions in other countries. These trades are, however, not risk free. Trading in foreign markets can lead to institutions collapsing if their investment plans are not well formulated. There are many factors to consider when planning an offshore investment. For example, what products to invest in, which countries to invest in, why invest in such countries or institutions, how long is the investment going to be, and what are the expected returns, taking into account all the risks involved. All these questions and many others should be answered before investing offshore. South African investment brokers registered with the Financial Services Board and licensed to trade offshore were selected as the target population to respond to a questionnaire designed for this study. A web-based questionnaire using LimeSurvey was used to collate data from the respondents. The SPSS statistical methodology was used for the analysis from where recommendations and conclusions were drawn. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The political relationship between "The People's Republic of China (PRC) and South Africa has grown from strength to strength since the end of the apartheid era. As a result of this cooperation, the importing and exporting between the two have grown significantly. With the Chinese markets now open to South Africans, manufactured goods are being imported. The manufacturing capabilities found in the PRC are very far advanced to those found in South Africa. As a result, many South African businesses have found that they can import their product far cheaper than they can buy or manufacture in South Africa, regardless of the challenges of importing between the two countries i.e. language barriers, culture differences, geographical location, etc. The last few years has seen more and more businesses importing from the PRC, which has effectively led to many business owners looking at the option of importing from the PRC in order to be competitive. This research study addresses the reasons and necessity to import manufactured goods from the PRC to South Africa. It also shows how a business actually goes about importing from the PRC. In essence, this study is to help the local entrepreneur become more competitive, by understanding what their competitors mayor may not be doing. If the competitors are importing themselves, then this will help them to be competitive. If they are not importing, then this study will give them the opportunity to get the competitive edge. In conclusion and in summary, importing goods from the PRC to South Africa can have a positive impact on the competitiveness of a business. Even though the concept of importing from the PRC to South Africa is often dismissed due to the apparent complexities of the importing process, it is hoped this study will allay such fears. This study will hopefully help those entrepreneurs to understand that it is not that complicated a task to make one's business competitive via Chinese imports. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die politieke verhouding tussen die People's Republic of China (PRC) en Suid Afrika het sedert die einde van die apartheidsera van krag tot krag gegroei. As gevolg van die samewerking tussen die twee het invoere en uitvoere aansienlik gegroei. Met die Sjinese markte nou oop vir Suid Afrikaners, word vervaardigde goedere ingevoer. Die vervaardigings-aanlegte vaardighede in die PRC is baie meer gevorderd as dit in Suid Afrika. Ongeag die struikelblokke vir invoer tussen die twee lande bv. taal, kultuur verskille, geografiese ligging ens., het baie Suid Afrikaanse besighede gevind dat produkte goedkoper ingevoer kan word as wat hulle dit plaaslik kan koop of vervaardig. In die laaste paar jaar het meer en meer besighede vanaf die PRC ingevoer wat daartoe gelei het dat baie beigheidseienaars die opsie oorweeg om vanaf die PRC in te voer om sodoende meer kompeterend te wees. Die navorsing spreek redes en noodsaaklikheid aan vir die invoer van vervaadigde goedere vanaf die PRC na Suid Afrika. Die prosedure van invoer van die PRC word ook deur die navorsing aangespreek. In geheel is die studie om die plaaslike entrepreneur te help om meer kompeterend te word deur markneigings te verstaan. As die kompeteerders self invoer, sal dit help om hulle meer kompeterend te maak. Indien nie, sal die studie hulle die geleentheid gee om meer kompeterend te wees. Ter afsluiting en om op te som, die invoer van goedere van die PRC na Suid Afrika kan 'n positiewe uitwerking op die kompetisie tussen besighede he. Alhoewel die idee van invoere van die PRC na Suid Afrika reeds baie afgewys is as gevolg van die duidelike ingewikkelde invoerproses, sal die studie hopelik sulke vrese uit die weg ruim. Die studie sal ook hopelik help om vir die entrepreneurs te laat verstaan dat so 'n gekompliseerde taak is om hul besigheid via Sjinese invoere kompeterend te maak nie.

This business plan is written for a to-be-founded trade company which focuses on the trade between Taiwan and Switzerland. The environmental analysis (Chapter 4) shows that there are countless opportunities for trade between the two countries. The goal of the company is to find products and solutions with considerable potential. Therefore, this business plan does not focus on just one product; instead a process defines how the company selects and develops the products in its portfolio (Chapter 3). By making these products available in the other country, the company gives Taiwanese and Swiss manufacturers new business opportunities and gives the potential customers better and different solutions to their problems. The company’s goal is to build long-term partnerships with its suppliers in order to ensure a high level of quality (Chapter 5). The company will set up two logistic centers, one in Taiwan and one in Switzerland, which will be the hubs for standardized and efficient distribution processes (Chapter 7). In order to keep the costs low during the first years, marketing and sales (Chapters 8 and 9) will focus most of its activities on B2C products which are mainly sold through ecommerce activities. Finally, the financial forecasts (Chapter 10) show that there is a very high level of uncertainties for the financial success of the company. Therefore the cost structure of the company must be highly flexible to be adjustable to the company’s growth.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African exports increased substantially during recent years and were assisted by the depreciation of the Rand. During this time exports to the European Union and the United States blossomed, but proportionally exports to the growing region of South East Asia still remained at a low level. The major global players consider the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an important trading partner in global trade, but the South African market share is minimal in the ASEAN market. The question that now has to be answered is: do opportunities exist for South African exporters in ASEAN or is it due to a lack of opportunities that exports are at the current level? In investigating the opportunities for South African exporters in ASEAN, it is important to know what approach should be followed to select an attractive country for a product or a product group. Therefore this study is aimed at proving an insight into the concept of international market selection and to highlight the approaches in international market selection that could benefit South African exporters. This study also investigates the influence of ASEAN as a regional organisation in global trade and its relationship with South Africa. An overview is given of the regionalism trend and the major regional organisations important in this regard. The political approaches that ASEAN's major trading partners followed to enhance trade are also investigated in order to re-evaluate the South Africa's current relationship with ASEAN. In order to enhance trade, the advantages ASEAN has to offer are also highlighted. Based on previous research literature on international market selection and against the background of the regionalism trend in global trade, a new international market selection model will be developed in this study for South African and international use. This will provide SA exporters with a systematic approach that will enable them to select the most attractive countries for their products or product groups in the global arena. In order to understand the practical application of the model, South Africa as the exporting country and ASEAN as the importing region will be used as a case study. The model will identify the most attractive countries for each of South Africa's product groups according to the 96 chapters of the Harmonised Commodity Description System (HS) linked to product groups and industries based on actual trade data. Based on South Africa's competitive export advantage in the 96 chapters of the HS linked to product groups and industries, opportunities will be identified in the most attractive countries in ASEAN selected by the international market selection model. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoere het aansienlik gestyg die afgelope paar jaar en was veral bygestaan deur die depresiasie van die Rand. Gedurende hierdie tydperk het uitvoere na die Europese Unie en die Verenigde State van Amerika die hoogty gevier, maar proporsioneel het uitvoere na die groeiende streek van Suidoos-Asië nog steeds op 'n lae vlak gebly. Die vernaamste globale spelers beskou die Assosiasie van Suidoos-Asiese Nasies (ASEAN) as 'n belangrike handelsvennoot in globale handel, maar Suid-Afrika se markaandeel in die ASEAN mark is minimaal. Die vraag wat nou beantwoord moet word is as volg: Bestaan daar geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders in ASEAN of is dit as gevolg van 'n tekort aan geleenthede dat uitvoere huidiglik op hierdie vlak is? In die ondersoek na geleenthede vir Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders in ASEAN, is dit belangrik om te weet watter benadering gevolg moet word om die mees aantreklike land te selekteer vir 'n produk of produkgroep. Daarom is die studie daarop gerig om insigte te verskaf oor die konsep van internasionale markseleksie en om die benaderings uit te lig in internasionale markseleksie wat Suid-Afikaanse uitvoerders kan bevoordeel. Die studie ondersoek ook die invloed van ASEAN as 'n regionale organisasie in globale handel en hul verhouding met Suid-Afrika. 'n Oorsig word gegee oor die regionale tendens in internasionale handel en die vernaamste regionale organisasies wat belangrik is in hierdie verband. Die politieke benaderings van ASEAN se vernaamste handelsvennote om hul handel te bevorder word ook ondersoek om Suid-Afrika se huidige verhouding met ASEAN te herevauleer. Om handel te bevorder word die voordele wat ASEAN kan bied ook uitgelig. 'n Nuwe internasionale markseleksie model word ontwikkel in hierdie studie vir Suid- Afrikaanse en internasional verbruik teen die agtergrond van regionalisme en wat gebaseer is op vorige navorsings literatuur oor internasionale markseleksie. Dit sal Suid-Afrikaanse uitvoerders 'n sistematiese benadering verskaf wat hulle in staat sal stel om die mees aantreklike lande vir hulle produkte en produkgroepe globaal te selekteer. Om die praktiese toepassing van die model te verstaan, sal Suid-Afrika as die uitvoerland en ASEAN as die invoerstreek gebruik word as 'n gevallestudie. Die model sal die mees aantreklike lande identifiseer vir elk van Suid-Afrika se produkgroepe volgens die 96 Hoofstukke van die "Harmonised Commodity Description System" (HS) wat verbind kan word met produkgroepe gebaseer op bestaande handelsdata. Geleenthede in die mees aantreklike lande in ASEAN wat deur die internationale markseleksie model selekteer is, word identifiseer gebaseer op SUid-Afrika se kompeterende uitvoervoordeel in die 96 Hoofstukke van die HS wat verbind kan word aan produkgroepe.

Thesis (LLD (Mercantile Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: International sales contracts have very specific needs that stem from the multiplicity of legal systems which apply to such contracts. In addition to harmonised law, mercantile custom is able to address many of these needs. Mercantile custom represents usages which are clear, certain and efficient and are expected to be known and applied by merchants in a particular trade or region. To this extent mercantile custom fulfils an automatic harmonisation function. However, where a custom does not enjoy uniform application across all branches of trade, the harmonisation function of mercantile custom is limited, as is the case with trade terms. Trade terms reflect mercantile customs and usages which developed over a long time in order to simplify the trade in goods that are transported from one place to the other. They regulate the delivery obligations of the seller and buyer as well as associated obligations such as the passing of risk. Trade terms negate the need for elaborate contract clauses and appear in abbreviated form in contracts of sale. Although they provide a uniform expression of mercantile custom in a particular location or trade, the understanding of trade terms tend to differ from country to country, region to region or from one branch of trade to the next. The ICC INCOTERMS is an effort to standardise trade term definitions at the hand of the most consistent mercantile customs and practices. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of INCOTERMS as a form of standardisation in international sales law. For purposes of the investigation the focus is limited to the passing of risk. Although national laws usually have a default risk regime in place, merchants still prefer to regulate risk by means of trade terms. This study will investigate the legal position in the case of FOB, CIF and DDU terms. An analysis of the risk regimes of a few selected national systems will show that each has their own understanding of these trade terms. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not refer to trade terms, but many commentators have concluded that the CISG risk rule is consistent with INCOTERMS. The study will discuss this in more detail. To determine the efficiency of INCOTERMS as a form of standardisation in international sales law, the study examines their characteristics, legal nature as well as their limited scope of regulation. Specific emphasis is placed on the interplay between the CISG and INCOTERMS and the possibility of some form of interaction and collaboration between the two instruments. It is concluded that collaboration between INCOTERMS and the CISG adds value to the international law of sales by increasing the efficiency of an international business transaction and thereby facilitating international trade. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionale koopkontrakte het spesifieke behoeftes wat voortspruit uit die veelvoudigheid van regstelsels van toepassing op so ‘n kontrak. Baie van hierdie behoeftes kan aangespreek word deur geharmoniseerde regsreëls in samehang met handelsgewoontes en –gebruike. Handelsgewoontes verteenwoordig duidelike, seker en effektiewe gebruike. Daar word dus van handelaars wat in ‘n bepaalde bedryf of streek handel dryf, verwag om van hierdie gebruike kennis te neem en hulle toe te pas. In hierdie konteks vervul handelsgebruike ‘n outomatiese harmoniseringsfunksie. Waar ‘n gebruik nie eenvormig toegepas word oor alle bedrywe heen nie, is die harmoniseringsfunksie van handelsgebruike egter beperk. Handelsterme bied ‘n tipiese voorbeeld hiervan. Handelsterme verteenwoordig bepaalde handelsgewoontes en –gebruike wat oor ‘n geruime tyd ontwikkel het ten einde handel in goedere wat van een plek na die ander vervoer word, te vergemaklik. Hulle reguleer die leweringsverpligtinge van die verkoper en koper asook ander verpligtinge wat met lewering verband hou, soos byvoorbeeld die oorgang van risiko. Handelsterme doen weg met lang en omslagtige kontraksbedinge aangesien hulle in die vorm van afkortings in die kontrak figureer. Alhoewel handelsterme ‘n uniforme uitdrukking van gebruike in ‘n bepaalde gebied of bedryf verteenwoordig, is dit egter so dat die inhoud van handelsterme van land tot land, streek tot streek of van een tipe bedryf tot die ander verskil. INCOTERMS is ‘n poging om die inhoud van handelsterme te standaardiseer aan die hand van die mees eenvormige handelsgewoontes en –gebruike. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die effektiwiteit van INCOTERMS as ‘n vorm van standaardisering in die internasionale koopreg te ondersoek. Vir doeleindes van die ondersoek word die fokus beperk tot die oorgang van risiko. Al het nasionale regstelsels gewoonlik ‘n verstek risiko-reël in plek, verkies handelaars steeds om risiko by wyse van handelsterme te reguleer. Die studie ondersoek die regsposisie in die geval van FOB-, CIF-, en DDU-terme. ‘n Analise van risiko-regulering in ‘n aantal nasionale sisteme toon dat elk hul eie betekenis heg aan die inhoud van hierdie terme. Alhoewel die Weense Koopkonvensie geensins na handelsterme verwys nie, voer verskeie kommentatore aan dat die Konvensie se risiko-bestel verenigbaar is met dié van INCOTERMS en sal hierdie aspek gevolglik in meer besonderhede in die studie aangespreek word. Ten einde die effektiwiteit van INCOTERMS te bepaal, word daar ondersoek ingestel na hulle kenmerke, regsaard en beperkte aanwendingsgebied. Spesiale klem word gelê op die wisselwerking tussen die Weense Koopkonvensie en INCOTERMS asook die moontlikheid van interaksie en samewerking tussen die twee instrumente. Die gevolgtrekking is dat interaksie tussen die Koopkonvensie en INCOTERMS waarde toevoeg tot die internasionale koopreg deur die effektiwiteit van die internasionale besigheidstransaksie te verhoog en gevolglik internasionale handel te bevorder. / Harry Crossley Fund / NRF Thuthuka Fund

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recently countries have become more aware of the potential anti-competitive effects of anti-dumping measures. This is mostly due to the view that anti-dumping measures, as trade policy instruments, are at odds with the objectives of competition policy. According to many economic writers the only rational economic justification for anti-dumping measures is predatory dumping as an extreme form of price discrimination. Apart from the dramatic change in the economic justification for the use of anti-dumping measures over the last decades, there has also been a significant change in the countries that implement these measures. Since the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations there has been a shift from developed countries to developing countries being the main users of these policy tools. In the last couple of years the member countries of the Southern African Customs Union have been under increased pressure by private firms to enable the use of anti-dumping measures on intra-regional goods trade. However, the appropriateness of utilising these measures on intra-regional trade in the context of a custom union has been a contentious issue in recent economic debate. These measures erect trade barriers among the member states which are against the basic premise of a customs union. This has resulted in most economists calling for the prohibition and replacement of anti-dumping measure with either coordinated domestic or harmonised regional competition policies. In developing the regional and national policies on anti-dumping the SACU member states can follow two main stream approaches. The first is the incorporation of various competition principles into anti-dumping rules to limit the negative welfare and anti-competitive effects of utilising anti-dumping measures, while the second is the abolition of anti-dumping measures in the region which is then replaced by competition policy. The option best suited for SACU depends on the differing viewpoints on implementing anti-dumping measures in a customs union. However, irrespective of which policy combination is chosen, regional and national polices and authorities will have to be created, adapted and/or amended in order to have an effective interaction between anti-dumping and competition policies applicable to intra-regional trade. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lande het ontlangs meer bewus geword van die moontlike negatiewe uitwerking wat maatreëls teen storting van goedere in markte kan hê op plaaslike en internasionale mededinging. Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die siening dat teen-stortingsmaatreëls, as instrumente van handelsbeleid, se doelwitte teenstrydig is met die van mededingingsbeleid. Volgens vele ekonomiese skrywers is die enigste rasionele ekonomiese regverdiging vir teen-stortingsmaatreëls predatoriese storting as ‘n uiterse vorm van prysdiskriminasie. Afgesien van die dramatiese verandering in die ekonomiese regverdiging vir die gebruik van teen-storingsmaatreëls oor die laaste dekades, het daar ook ‘n beduidende verandering plaasgevind in die lande wat hierdie maatreëls om goedere handel implementeer. Sedert die Uruguay Rondte van Multi-laterale Handelsooreenkomste het daar ‘n verskuiwing plaasgevind van ontwikkelde lande na ontwikkellende lande as die belangrikste gebruikers van hierdie beleidsinstrumente. In die laaste paar jaar het private firmas die lidlande van die Suider-Afrikaanse Doeane-Unie onder toenemede druk begin plaas vir die gebruik van teen-storingsmaatreëls op invoere vanaf die res van die streek. Alhoewel, huidiglik is die toepaslikehid van die gebruik van hierdie maatreëls op handel, in die konteks van ‘n doeane-unie, steeds ‘n omstrede kwessie binne ekonomiese dabatte. Hierdie maatreëls rig handelsversperrings tussen lidlande op wat teen die basiese veronderstelling van ‘n doeane-unie is. As gevolg hiervan is die meeste ekonome van die opinie dat teen-storingsmaatreëls vervang moet word met óf gekoördineerde binnelandse of geharmoniseerde streeks- mededingingsbeleid. Die SADU-lidlande kan twee benaderings volg in die ontwikkeling van streeks- en nasionale beleid oor teen-storingsmaatreëls. Die eerste is the insluiting van verskillende mededingingsbeginsels in bepalings wat handel oor teen-storingsmaatreëls om sodoende die moontlike negatiewe gevolge van hierdie maatreëls te beperk. Die tweede opsie is om teen-storingsmaatreëls op streeks-invoere met bededingingsbeleid te vervang. Die mees gepasde opsie sal af hang van die verskillende standpunte rondom die toepaslikheid van teen-stortingsmaatreëls in ‘n doeane-unie. Alhoewel, ongeag die beleidskombinasie wat gekies word sal nasionale en streeks-beleid en owerhede geskep, aangepas en/of gewysig moet word ten einde ‘n effektiewe interaksie tussen teen-storingsmaatreëls en mededingingsbeleid binne SADU te verseker.

第一章為緒論，說明研究動機與研究範圍。第二章首先說明危險負擔之意義，並就各 國有關之規定，探討危險負擔之移轉時點，及買賣契約之型態與危險負擔之關係。第 三章則在國際買賣當事人未違約之前寫下，研究國際貨物買賣公約與定型貿易慣例關 於危險負擔之規定，並論述貨物所有權之移轉及保險與危險負擔移轉之關係。第四章 則在國際買賣當事人違約之情況下，探討其對危險負擔效力之影響，包括出賣人交付 不符約定之標的、迨於裝船通知、買受人遲延受領等問題。另外，在所謂「交件交貨 」之交易方式下，倘該文件遺失，亦有危險負擔之問題產生；第五章將探討裝船文件 之危險負擔。第六章乃本文之結論。

國際貿易理論有二大模型：即Heckscher-Ohlin-Samuelson 模型，以及強調特殊生產 因素之特殊要素模型（Special Factor Model）。 本文擬對特殊生產要素模型加以探討，並改變模型一些假設，分析模型之各種效果。 本文第一部分及乃就此模型，建立統一模型，比較Jones、Ikemoto以及Amano 等人之 主張，並敘述其一般性質。第二、三部分則擬改變假設，分別討論技術進以及規模報 酬變動存在情形下，對模型各種效果之影響。

探討我國黃豆期貨交易屢次虧損之原因，進而研究期貨交易的正確意義及操作策略， 供爾後交之參考，以期藉著期貨交易降低我國採購成本，增加外銷競爭能力，安定民 生。 第一章為緒論─介紹研究大綱。第二章：期貨交易之意義─探討期貨交易之本質並介 紹幾種操作技巧。第三章：黃豆的供需─由黃豆基本的產銷情形，分析影響價格之各 頸因素及技術分析法。第五章：我國期貨交易之檢討─檢討過去交易得失，以策未來 。第六章─結論。