HELPING TO DEVELOP SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORTERS: DEFINING A CANADIAN ROLE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study aims to broaden our existing knowledge with respect to the export behavior of South African SME's and the role that Canadians can play in helping South Africa's economy grow. After analyzing the South African export environment and conducting interviews with the owner/managers from 34 South African small and medium-sized exporters it was concluded that problems endemic to the South African environment appear to be hampering the normal evolutionary behavior predicted by the stages theory of internationalization of South African SME's Canadian firms can help by assisting South African SME's in their efforts towards internationalization and providing a helpful export environment.