Competitiveness and Transfer of Technology

Abstract

No doubt the contribution of SMEs to exports to some extent relates to their capacity for internationalization. It is also a critical factor measuring their global competitiveness (Long, 2003). SMEs’ low level of global competitiveness can be a serious obstacle to enterprises accessing not only the international market but domestic markets as well, since their products cannot compete with imported goods. Not many attempts have been made so far to assess the global competitiveness of SMEs in Asian developing countries. Thus, not much can be said about this topic for SMEs in these countries, although Chapter 4 on export performance may give some clues about the relative competitiveness of SMEs in the countries discussed.