The Importance of Networks in Export Promotion: Policy Issues

Although the field of networks has been the subject of extensive investigation, there has been little application to policy issues connected with the internationalization of companies. This is despite the emergence of so-called network schemes in many countries, which aim at building cooperative links between small companies to exploit wider market possibilities, including those in the global arena. This article, through the evaluation of a new export promotion scheme, specifically addresses the policy issues arising when networks are both the means to achieve international market outcomes and the outcomes themselves, that is, part of the foundation for ongoing international market penetration. Furthermore, it is argued that network outcomes should be included as part of the criteria for evaluating the success of export promotion schemes.