International Expansion Research Articles

IMPLEMENTASI METODE IFAS EFAS DALAM PENENTUAN STRATEGI BISNIS VI HIGH LABEL RECORD

This thesis examines the business strategy of VI High Label Record in facing the commercial advertising industry. The research involves the analysis of SWOT, IFAS, EFAS, and IE matrices to identify factors influencing the company. The analysis reveals that VI High Label Record's main strength lies in "Commercial music usage," with a weakness in "Lack of physical offline sales market." The most significant opportunity is the "Continuous growth of the digital music industry," while the primary threat is "Rapid changes in music trends." The results of the IFAS and EFAS analyses indicate that the company's strengths outweigh its weaknesses (3.0>1.4), and opportunities outweigh threats (2.5>1.0). VI High Label Record is positioned in IE matrix cell II, suggesting a "Grow" and "Build" strategy. Recommendations include enhancing product marketing, international expansion, developing recording infrastructure, collaborating with influencers and social media, as well as backward and forward integration. This research aids record labels in devising strategies to confront advertising industry challenges and maintain their positions. The findings offer practical guidance for VI High Label Record and contribute to the music industry's understanding of record label challenges.

International Expansion Strategy in Fast-Growing Businesses: Using Bayesian Networks to Identify Influencing Factors

International Expansion Strategy in Fast-Growing Businesses: Using Bayesian Networks to Identify Influencing Factors

Analyzing the Sharing Economy from an Economic Model Perspective

The sharing economy is a new economic model that matches idle resources with the demand side through online platforms to achieve resource sharing and optimized utilization. This article analyzes the sharing economy from the perspective of economic models, mainly including platform economy model, co production economy model, and shared consumption economy model. At the same time, the advantages and challenges of the sharing economy were also explored, such as high resource utilization, creating employment opportunities and improving consumer welfare, as well as challenges such as incomplete laws and regulations, increased security risks, and increased inequality. Finally, the development trends and prospects of the sharing economy were envisioned, such as cross-border integration and innovative development, government regulation and regulatory guidance, user trust and brand building, as well as the importance of international cooperation and market expansion.

The influence of home-country resources and state ownership on subsidiary’s performance: a multilevel perspective

PurposeAlthough emerging markets are distinctly known for the rapid growth and international expansion of their state-owned enterprises, little is known about the influence of parent resource advantages and mixed state ownership on a subsidiary’s performance. Using the resource-based view, this study aims to investigate how resource advantages from the parent company and state ownership influence the performance of subsidiaries.Design/methodology/approachThis study included a unique data set of 207 subsidiaries from 33 large Brazilian multinationals located in 32 countries from 2000 to 2015. The authors used a hierarchical linear modeling and a multilevel structure based on data at different levels to analyze the influence of home-country parent resource advantages and state ownership on host-country subsidiary’s performance.FindingsThis study illustrates that state ownership can alleviate the resource advantages of parent companies. Evidence is presented, indicating that low and medium degrees of state ownership have a negative impact on the resource advantages of the parent company, consequently reducing the subsidiary’s performance. Moreover, this study highlights that low and medium degrees of state ownership lead to conflicting interests between state ownership and parent resource advantages, resulting in an overall decline in subsidiary performance.Originality/valueThis research contributes new evidence regarding state ownership and resource advantages to the field of international business studies and the domain of Latin American multinational enterprises, Multilatinas. The results suggest that low and medium levels of state ownership diminish the influx of resources from parent companies, thereby restricting the subsidiary’s performance.

Формування національного бренду України в міжнародній діяльності

The article delves into the influence of Ukraine's national brand on the formation of the image of domestic enterprises in the international arena. Factors that determine this influence are exam-ined, including the country's reputation, perceptions of the quality of its products and services, as well as the level of trust in Ukrainian brands. The insights gained from this article can be valuable to marketing professionals, researchers in international relations, and brand managers operating in the era of globalization and internation-al trade. Understanding the influence of the national brand on enterprises will enable the develop-ment of more effective strategies for international expansion and enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian companies in the global market. The purpose of the national brand is to create a percep-tion of the country as having powerful and unique production capabilities, rich research potential, cultural traditions, and natural and recreational resources. The development of Ukraine in the international arena directly depends on its positive percep-tion by the foreign community. Foreign states, citizens of other countries, investors, whose attitude is positive, also have an influence on the solution of internal socio-economic problems. A positive image of Ukraine contributes to strengthening the effectiveness of the state's foreign and domestic policy. The war in Ukraine, has had a complex and multifaceted impact on the image of domestic en-terprises in the world. For example, support from the international community, including sanctions against russia and assistance to Ukraine, can have a positive impact. It signifies solidarity with Ukraine and can mitigate some of the negative perceptions associated with the conflict. Ukraine's pursuit of closer ties with the European Union and other international partners has opened up new trade opportunities. This can positively impact enterprises that can take advantage of these trade agreements. In summary, the war in Ukraine has had a mixed impact on the image of domestic enterprises in the world. It has created challenges and negative perceptions in some cases, but it has also shown the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian businesses.

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTION OF WATER HYACINTH (EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES) CRAFT PRODUCTS AS EMPOWERMENT FOR MICRO ENTERPRISE

Binus University, with its mission of "empowering society," successfully implemented an MSME empowerment program focusing on businesses utilizing water hyacinth as a raw material. This program, led by two faculty members from Binus Business School, operated from April to September 2023 and had a profound impact on Ratu Eceng, owned by Mrs. Eiko Darmayanti.The program's digital marketing content training played a pivotal role in transforming Ratu Eceng's business. Equipped with newfound social media skills, she created compelling promotional content, increasing brand visibility and engaging with customers online. Binus University's contribution extended further with the procurement of live marketing studio equipment. This allowed Ratu Eceng to create captivating live streaming content, fostering direct customer interactions and presenting her products in a more personal manner. In summary, Binus University's MSME empowerment program focused on water hyacinth-based businesses has yielded remarkable results for Ratu Eceng. These outcomes encompass improved digital marketing capabilities, enhanced product design, and successful international expansion. This initiative exemplifies how higher education institutions can empower communities by enhancing skills and creating opportunities for MSMEs. Future program recommendations include fostering greater collaboration among MSMEs, maintaining a sustainable international expansion focus, and enhancing impact measurement for continued success in community empowerment initiatives.

Managerial myopia and outward foreign direct investment: Evidence from Chinese listed firms

AbstractPrevious literature has studied the effect of managers' attributes on firms' outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). However, this extant literature ignored the role of managerial myopia. We use a sample of Chinese listed companies to examine the impact of managerial myopia on firms' OFDI. Based on the MD&A disclosure of firms, we use textual analysis and machine learning technology to measure managerial myopia. The result shows that managerial myopia has a negative impact on firms' OFDI. The cross‐sectional analysis results shows that the effect of managerial myopia on firms' OFDI is concentrated in firms with low financial constraints, technology‐intensive firms, and non‐state‐owned enterprises. Further analysis indicates that managerial short‐term performance pressure and corporate risk‐taking, respectively, strengthen and weaken the negative impact of managerial myopia on firms' OFDI. Our results suggest that managerial myopia will hinder a firm's international expansion. Therefore, firms committed to international expansion should also consider the long‐horizon vision of managers when appointing senior managers.

Liability of political embeddedness in Chinese multinationals: Implications for headquarters’ roles and reverse knowledge transfer

It is well known that Chinese multinationals’ international expansion is often supported by the home-country government. This study argues that the political embeddedness of Chinese multinationals’ headquarters may impair their managerial intentions and abilities to carry out their entrepreneurial and administrative roles and, indirectly, their capacity to achieve reverse knowledge transfers from their foreign subsidiaries. Based on a study of 177 subsidiaries of 99 Chinese multinationals, we find no support for the argument that political embeddedness affects headquarters’ centralization of subsidiary decisions, although such centralization is negatively associated with reverse knowledge transfer. Additionally, our findings show that home-country political embeddedness is negatively associated with headquarters’ entrepreneurial role vis-à-vis individual subsidiaries. This hampers subsidiaries’ reverse knowledge transfers. The results contribute to understanding the value of political embeddedness and headquarters’ roles in the context of Chinese multinationals. They also provide insights into the strategic asset-seeking internationalization of Chinese multinationals. By developing and operationalizing the multidimensional concept of political embeddedness, this study further contributes to the research on firm-government relations.

Representation of Voice Hearing Groups by French Mental Health Professionals.

Hearing voices groups (HVGs) are an alternative way of treating acoustic-verbal hallucinations. Although they have been developing in France for the last decade, they have lagged behind their international expansion. The representations that circulate about their functioning and their effects are likely to influence the referral to these groups by mental health professionals. We created and used a questionnaire to survey mental health professionals' representations of voice hearing groups. We surveyed 79 French health professionals using a questionnaire with 19 closed items. 7 additional items allowed us to specify the professional status and familiarity of the participants with the HVGs. Professionals generally shared positive representations of HVGs but had very approximate knowledge of them. The subgroup of the most familiar professionals (N = 45) differed significantly on 7 items from the subgroup of non-familiars (N = 35). HVGs are represented as one medical offer among others, of little clinical use and indicated only for psychotic voice-hearing patients, which seems to be a misunderstanding in every case. However, our study also shows that these opinions evolve with the degree of familiarity with HVGs. Certain representations need to be corrected so that quality information can be circulated about HVGs and improve their integration into their ecosystem.

Alliance management capability and SMEs’ international expansion: The role of innovation pathways

Although alliance management capability (AMC) has been widely investigated as a firm-level performance driver, it is still unclear whether and how this distinctive type of relational capability can enhance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) internationalization activity. By integrating the alliance capability literature and resource-based view (RBV), as well as using data collected from a sample comprising 248 SMEs in UK manufacturing industries, we address this gap by examining the mechanisms through which SMEs can expand their internationalization via collaboration. We found support for our contention that AMC enhances radical and incremental co-innovation in SMEs, culminating in the international expansion of these firms. Additionally, we reveal the moderating effects of alliance partner diversity on the AMC and co-innovation relationship. The results offer both theoretical and managerial insights, contributing to a better understanding of how SMEs can leverage AMC to drive their global expansion strategies.

The Impact of Different Marketing Approaches on Company Performance Taking ANTA as an Example

This research aims to explore the impact of different marketing strategies on the performance of Anta, a Chinese sportswear brand. The study utilizes SWOT analysis to identify Anta's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and examines how traditional marketing, social media marketing, and sports event sponsorship affect the brand's performance. The research is based on a thorough review of the relevant literature and secondary data analysis. The findings indicate that Anta's strengths lie in its strong brand reputation, diversified product portfolio, and innovative design. However, the company faces challenges in the areas of distribution and international expansion. The study also reveals that social media marketing is a cost-effective and efficient way for Anta to engage with consumers and improve brand awareness, while sports event sponsorship can help the company enhance its brand image and reach a wider audience. In conclusion, this research provides insights into the marketing strategies that can help Anta improve its performance and competitiveness in the sportswear market. The study suggests that Anta should continue to invest in social media marketing and explore new opportunities for sports event sponsorship. The research contributes to the existing literature on sportswear marketing and provides valuable information for marketing practitioners and academics.

DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY FOR A UKRAINIAN AGRICULTURAL BERRY COMPANY IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

In today's globalised business environment, Ukrainian agribusinesses, particularly those in the berry sector, face a dynamic and competitive international market. To succeed in this environment, these companies need to develop effective digital marketing strategies that resonate with a global audience. This research focuses on the intricacies and imperatives of forming a robust digital marketing strategy for Ukrainian agri-berry companies operating in international markets. The study begins by delving into the specifics of the berry sector, highlighting its unique characteristics, challenges and potential. It highlights the importance of berries in a global context, emphasising their role as health-conscious consumers seek nutritious and sustainable options. Next, the research explores the digital landscape, highlighting the central role of digital platforms, social media and e-commerce in modern marketing. It highlights the power of data analytics and artificial intelligence in understanding consumer behaviour and tailoring marketing efforts. One of the key findings is the need to understand the cultural nuances and preferences of international target markets. It presents case studies of successful digital marketing campaigns by Ukrainian agricultural berry companies in different global regions. The purpose of this article is to comprehensively examine the formation of digital marketing strategies for Ukrainian agribusinesses specialising in berries as they navigate the complex landscape of international markets. It aims to shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these companies, highlighting the importance of digital marketing in reaching global consumers. Through in-depth research, case studies and analysis, this article aims to provide valuable insights and practical guidance for Ukrainian agri-berry companies, enabling them to develop effective and tailored digital marketing strategies that will enhance their competitiveness and success on the international stage. Methodology. The methodology used in this article involves a multifaceted approach designed to comprehensively examine the formation of digital marketing strategies for Ukrainian agri-berry companies operating in international markets. Extensive research was conducted to review the existing literature on digital marketing strategies, international market entry and the agricultural sector in Ukraine. Comparative analysis was carried out to identify patterns, trends and best practices in the digital marketing strategies of Ukrainian agrarian berry companies compared to their international competitors. Several case studies were conducted to analyse real-life examples of Ukrainian agrarian berry companies that have ventured into international markets. These case studies provided valuable insights into the challenges and successes of different digital marketing strategies. Results. The survey conducted as part of this study sheds light on the current landscape of digital marketing strategies among Ukrainian agricultural berry companies in the context of international markets. A significant percentage of companies surveyed showed a significant gap in their digital presence compared to international competitors. Many Ukrainian agri-berry companies have yet to fully exploit the potential of digital marketing. This limited use represents a missed opportunity to optimise marketing efforts. An interesting trend has emerged in terms of social media platforms. While most companies use Facebook for marketing, there is a growing interest in diversifying to platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn in line with international marketing trends. Respondents often cited challenges associated with internationalisation, such as adapting marketing content for different markets, navigating diverse regulations and overcoming language barriers. Despite the challenges, a significant number of companies reported a positive return on investment (ROI) from their digital marketing efforts. This shows that with the right strategies, international markets can be very lucrative. There is room for improvement: а recurring theme in respondents' responses was the recognition that there is significant room for improvement in their digital marketing strategies. Many respondents expressed their intention to invest more in digital marketing and seek professional advice. Thus, the survey results highlight both the opportunities and challenges faced by Ukrainian agricultural berry companies in their efforts to develop effective digital marketing strategies for international markets. These findings will form the basis for the practical recommendations outlined in this study. Practical implications. The practical implications of this research highlight the need for Ukrainian agri-berry companies to prioritise digital marketing strategies for international expansion. By improving their digital presence, leveraging data analytics and diversifying across relevant platforms, these companies can overcome challenges and capitalise on the significant opportunities presented by international markets. Ukrainian agri-berry companies can use the findings to revise their digital marketing strategies, focusing on data-driven approaches and diversified platforms. By addressing the challenges of internationalisation and investing wisely, these companies can increase their global market presence and profitability. Value/originality. The value and originality of this article lies in a comprehensive study of the formation of digital marketing strategies for Ukrainian agricultural berry companies in international markets. This topic is extremely relevant in today's globalised business environment, where digital marketing plays a key role in a company's success. First, this article contributes to the existing body of knowledge by specifically addressing the unique challenges faced by Ukrainian agricultural berry companies.

With Gratitude

“With Gratitude” expresses the essence of Thanksgiving as a time to appreciate the significant impact of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). NATS president Diana Allan offers her gratitude to NATS members and leaders for their dedicated efforts in advancing the art of singing and voice instruction. This column also highlights NATS’ role in vocal music education, the changing landscape of voice habilitation, and the need for collaboration and adaptation in this evolving field and celebrates NATS’ international expansion, acknowledging the contributions of leaders and members from various regions. Many upcoming and diverse professional development opportunities are highlighted, including workshops, competitions, and conferences. The column celebrates the dedication of NATS leaders who volunteer their time and energy to enhance the organization’s initiatives, ranging from expanding NSA categories, to developing AuditionNow, and to supporting fellow members.

The history of palynology in Egypt

This contribution marks the achievements made in the past decades by a group of mainly Egyptian palynologists. The data generated covers a long-time span from the Precambrian to the Holocene of Egypt. Previously published results are devoted primarily to the study of many exploration wells and outcrop sections. Comprehensive studies were carried out on a range of palynomorph groups including spores and pollen, algae and prasinophytes, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, scolecodonts, chitinozoans, and other miscellaneous forms as well as palynofacies. Particular attention is given to the history of palaeopalynology. This study has identified three main phases. The results of the first phase were limited, as the knowledge of palynology in Egypt was poorly known from 1959 until 1979. Between 1980 and 2000, which represents the second or shaping phase, an intensive study of surface and subsurface material was carried out. The third phase (2000 until now) provides the academic and commercial expansion of palynological research in Egypt, where palynology can have immediate application in petroleum exploration studies. In the first phase, the application of palynology was seriously hampered by the limited extent of the published data. Only 27 works emerged by the end of 1979. A considerable acceleration was noted in the second phase when palynological research was established in many national institutions and started to play a considerable role in petroleum exploration. Beyond academia, some of the operating oil companies started to set up palynological laboratories and staff as part of biostratigraphy teams. These included, for example, GPC, Khalda Petroleum Company with a focus on the north Western Desert, and GUPCO with a focus on the Gulf of Suez, and most of the results obtained were incorporated with the internal data on the well files. During the period 2000–2009, especially when palynofacies studies were incorporated, the progress and the direction of palynological research changed. This allowed for a more accurate reconstruction of the depositional process and eventually a palaeobiogeographical history mainly for the Cretaceous, which is an important target for hydrocarbon exploration in Egypt. From 2010 onwards, the number of publications has clearly grown and reached 23 publications in 2020. Such a high pace of development seems to have been at the expense of basic research comprising taxonomy and biostratigraphy, something that might negatively impact the quality of research and also researchers, especially early career researchers. The change brought about through this phase by integrating organic geochemistry, sedimentology, and other disciplines may, however, have left a positive impact, principally in terms of international collaborations and expansion of palynological applications beyond the standard academic cluster. Important highlights and outputs, and prospective forthcoming developments and recommendations pertaining to Egyptian palynology generally (and in each phase) are discussed.

How do emerging multinationals achieve sustainable development globally? The enabling mechanism of headquarter‐subsidiary structure in subsidiary sustainability

AbstractDespite of the increasing attention on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation, emerging multinational corporations (EMNCs), and their foreign subsidiaries, as the promising contributors and main agents respectively to address SDG issues worldwide, have been rarely noticed in theoretical research. Drawing upon the loose coupling theory, this study seeks to address the unique challenges EMNCs facing in managing their foreign subsidiaries' SDG implementation, and informs on tackling the potential conflicts in meeting multiple SDG requirements of home and host countries. Based on a sample of 295 foreign subsidiaries from Chinese manufacturing firms, this study adopts polynomial quadratic regression with response surface analysis to examine the relationship between headquarter‐subsidiary (HQS) coupling structure and subsidiary sustainable development, as well as the role of parent corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and FDI motives in this process. Our findings demonstrate support for the positive effect of HQS coupling structure on subsidiary sustainable development, and the moderating role of FDI motives is confirmed. This study reveals the key mechanisms and contingencies of SDG implementation at the subsidiary level, and provides theoretical insights for EMNCs to tackle SDG issues globally, obtain legitimacy locally and deepen international expansion accordingly.

Cementing a place in Africa: PPC’s internationalisation drive

Learning outcomes The study enables students to critique the internationalisation strategy of an African business including elements of macroeconomic analysis, company fit with jurisdictions, non-market strategies and mode of entry. Case overview/synopsis Roland van Wijnen was the chief executive officer of Pretoria Portland Cement Company Limited (PPC), a 130-year-old cement maker based in South Africa. He joined after the business had embarked on an international expansion strategy that had taken the business to countries of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia in a matter of years. This expansion caused the deflation of the Johannesburg-listed company’s share price. The company failed to appreciate a number of success factors in each jurisdiction. The challenges included cultural misalignments, macroeconomic analysis and mode of market entry. The case dilemma involved the choices that van Wijnen faced in re-evaluating the international footprint of the business. Complexity academic level Undergraduate or postgraduate level. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 5: International business.

Business model change and internationalization in the sharing economy

For over a decade, sharing economy companies (“sharecoms”) have been operating on an international stage with novel digital platform-based business models that create and capture value through unique dimensional configurations. However, the relationship between these business models and the international expansion of sharecoms remains under-theorized. This longitudinal study addresses this gap and presents new empirically driven insights. Based on a cross-border, cross-sector case study of six sharecoms, we investigated the evolution of the business model in relation to internationalization. The results showed that multidimensional changes took place within the business models, impacting the sharecoms’ internationalization in terms of speed, scale, and scope through circular causality. Moreover, by creating virtuous cycles of business model change and internationalization, sharecoms were able to achieve network effects and unlock value.

International Strategies of Islamic Financial Institutions: Current Challenges and Future Trends

In an era of growing pressures towards financial ethics, social responsibility and sustainable development, Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) have emerged as new actors on the global financial stage. With their unique characteristics, IFIs offer a different approach to finance. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the international strategies adopted by Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) in their pursuit of global expansion. The current global financial landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities for IFIs in their cross-border operations. In this paper, the drivers, obstacles, and outcomes of IFIs' international strategies are evaluated. IFIs’ approaches to localization, standardization, partnerships, and technological innovations are examined. The article highlights how IFIs, guided by Sharia principles, navigate the complexities of global finance while remaining loyal to Islamic ethical practices. The significance of IFIs' international strategies in facilitating financial inclusion, stability and economic development particularly in Muslim emerging economies is also discussed. Subsequently, the factors that drive IFIs towards international expansion are explored. Increased demand for Sharia-compliant financial services, regulatory reforms, and the advantages of diversification in both product offerings and markets are among important motivators of international expansion for IFIs. How these drivers require IFIs to balance ethical considerations, regulatory compliance and financial performance is highlighted in detail. The challenges and obstacles faced by IFIs in their internationalization phase are analyzed in-depth. Cross-cultural differences, regulatory complexities and the need to achieve Sharia compliance across different contexts come to the fore as important challenges. The study is centered around the variety of international strategies IFIs implement to navigate the global markets. It explains local adaptation strategies that customize products and services to meet the unique preferences of diverse markets. The article also delves into standardization strategies that necessitate common operational principles to achieve economies of scale and ensure Sharia compliance. Furthermore, the article investigates how IFIs enlist technological innovations to improve customer experiences and establish a strong international presence. In this regard, digital platforms, AI-driven solutions and blockchain technology are main facilitators of IFIs in overcoming geographical barriers and providing user-friendly services. The role of strategic partnerships and alliances as a critical component of IFIs' international strategies is explored. Collaborations with local stakeholders enable expertise sharing, resource pooling and market penetration. The article concludes by discussing future trends and prospects for IFIs' international strategies. It pinpoints potential large-scale changes that will have a considerable impact on how IFIs engage in international expansion. The article emphasizes that, amidst all these turbulent conditions, a commitment to Islamic business ethics and social responsibility principles will continue to guide IFIs' strategic decisions as the most important anchors. In summary, this article offers a comprehensive examination of the international strategies pursued by Islamic financial institutions. By delving into the drivers, obstacles, and outcomes of IFIs' global expansion efforts, it provides valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. The article underscores how IFIs, driven by ethical considerations and guided by Sharia principles, can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of international finance while maintaining their commitment to social responsibility and financial inclusion.

MODERN TRENDS OF INТERNATIONALIZATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS

The article discusses the directions of internationalization of the activities of the world's leading multinational companies. Based on the value of the transnationality index, companies with the highest internationalization rates are identified, which include companies from large and small highly developed countries. The reasons for their international expansion are substantiated. The reasons for increasing the activity of companies in the field of cross-border mergers and acquisitions, on the one hand, and getting rid of foreign branches, on the other, are analyzed. The forms of entry into the market of digital and high-tech TNCs, including transactions on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and greenfield investments, are being investigated. The article shows the problems of reducing the inflow of foreign direct investment into the Russian economy and the reasons for the departure of foreign companies from developed countries, including the United States and Europe, as well as options for replacing investments with investments of Russian entrepreneurs. It is concluded that in these conditions companies from friendly countries, primarily from China, can begin to expand their investments, which is especially important in the field of mechanical engineering.

Banks’ Strategic International Expansion: Evidence from Africa

This study identified the strategies adopted by banks in Africa to gain access to international markets and why banks establish foreign operations. Twenty-two African banks were selected to examine the entry mode and number of foreign outlets. The study affirmed that most African banks expanded their operations internationally via acquisitions and strategic alliances. At the same time, the motive for expansion is linked to market development to serve customers operating in overseas markets, government policies, and strategic knowledge sourcing. Furthermore, some reasons identified include expanding operations, defensive expansion, and protecting existing bank client relations. The study recommends that African banks should strive to adapt different internationalisation strategies primarily driven by their desire to gain knowledge.