International Industry Research Articles

Potentials of baobab: A complement to cocoa production

Baobab is a priority pan-African tree species that can be put on a similar pedestal as cocoa. The wild and indigenous baobab has the potential for similar importance in tropical agriculture as the exotic commodity crop cocoa, whose beans are exported for the international chocolate industry. Considering the advantages associated with baobab cultivation, the tree could be one of the cash crops cultivated in West Africa. Domestication and cultivation of the plant will improve biodiversity which can drive many livelihoods and important strategies in solving food and nutrition insecurity, poverty, export and sometimes environmental degradation. However, domestication of baobab has only been in progress for a few years, thus the tree remains virtually wild across its range. Successful domestication of baobab tree has the potential to complement cocoa cultivation and this will enhance diet and market diversification, contributing to growth of local economies to enrich and sustain livelihoods of rural poor. This review compared the resilience and suitability of baobab and cocoa growing conditions, overall usefulness, nutritional composition and vulnerability to pests and diseases. In addition, the genetic and morphological variation was reviewed for the suitability of baobab to be domesticated. These two important economic plants are of comparable antiquity and when cultivated, can better complement each other in most Sub-Saharan Africa countries – a major driver in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why did the Malaysian Automobile Sector not Achieve their Described Look East Targets in 1981?

In the past decades, there was a growing demand in commodity vehicles that has contributed to the increase in market share of the automotive sector in many countries, including Japan and Korea. However, despite a lot of countries cherishing the significant sales in the automotive sector and also, Malaysia was not able to succeed. One example is Proton, which has failed with an immense decrease in market share and sales over the last two decades. The previous research has provided a dominant explanation for this failure as the lack of economies of scale, dependence at the home marketplace, technology development, Limited R&D, testing capabilities, compliance with worldwide standards, lack of professional workers, and poor linkages. I use the data from Tai and C.Y.Ku, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Anazawa, and Ministry of International Trade and Industry to understand the organizational structure and industry performance. Similar to the previous findings, our findings indicated that the Malaysian automotive industry suffers from a lack of dynamics between state and private enterprises, a lack of scale efficiencies, and a reliance on domestic markets. Additionally, it made clear reference to the problems raised by Chang, Andreoni, and Rodrik. In contrast to Japan, where the automotive industry made a large contribution to the Gross domestic product, Malaysia's automotive industry, which includes companies like Proton, was unable to flourish and win the national championship.

한⋅일 은행산업의 메타효율성 비교: 이윤을 바탕으로

Purpose: This study aims to improve the competitiveness of the domestic banking industry by diagnosing the efficiency of the Japanese and Korean banking industries, which have similar financial environments such as long-term low growth and low interest rates.
 Research design, data, and methodology: The research method uses probabilistic frontier analysis (SFA) and the form of a profit function based on five years (2015- 2019) data for 35 banks in Korea and Japan. This study estimates the individual frontiers of Korean and Japanese banking groups, and estimates the meta-frontiers that encompass the individual frontiers of Korean and Japanese banks operating with different technologies. In addition, the international technology gap between two countries is measured and meta-profit efficiency is calculated using the profit efficiency of each country and the international technology gap. Through this verification process, the management characteristics of countries leading the meta-frontier and the banking industry in that country are confirmed.
 Furthermore, we regressively analyze the determinants of inefficiency for the profit and technology gap of the two national banking groups and draw implications. This study differs from previous studies in that it uses a probabilistic frontier analysis and a profit function for the international banking industry from a profit perspective.
 Results: As a result of empirical analysis, first, in terms of profit efficiency by country, the Bank of Korea group is more efficient. However, in the international technology gap, the Japanese banking group is considerably ahead of Korea. Accordingly, in terms of meta profit efficiency, the Japanese banking group is ahead of Korea, which is due to the international technology gap. Second, the meta profit efficiency of Japan’s three major urban banks is the highest with an average of 0.91 for five years, and among them, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank was found to be the leading bank among all the research target banks. Third, it was analyzed that the profit efficiency improvement effect occurs only when the market concentration (HHI index) of both countries’ banking groups is increased and the net loan ratio is lowered.
 Implications: Therefore, it was suggested that the banking industry of the two countries should increase their market dominance by increasing the beneficiary assets other than loans, because the increase in bad debts due to credit risk increases as the amount of loans increases and negatively affects the efficiency of banks.

Analysis of Asian Marketing Status of L 'Oreal Group

As one of the world's leading cosmetics groups, the L'Oréal Group owns overseas markets in many countries, and its sophisticated international marketing operations have brought achievements in overseas markets. This paper examined and analyzed the current state of L'Oréal Group's marketing in Asia international markets around the last decade of the 21st century and the problems that exist. Based on a comparative investigation of some differences in the marketing strategies of the L'Oréal Group in the European or US regions to investigate whether regional cultural uniqueness influences the marketing strategies implemented in Asia in the market. Meanwhile, the case study illustrated the disadvantages and competition problems that the L'Oréal Group may have in marketing in Asian overseas markets. A literature review and case study were conducted on this article with qualitative methods. The 4Ps (Price, Product, Place, Promotion) were applied to analyze some of L'Oréal Group’s marketing situation in Asia. Also, the advantages and disadvantages of L'Oréal’s marketing strategy in Asia will examine by the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) method. Finally, propose countermeasures for L'Oréal to improve Asian marketing based on the problems that exist and highlighted the competitive advantages of L'Oréal Group in the international cosmetics market industry.

Potential Implications of Covid-19 on Tourism Industry: Charting A Road Map for Future

Covid-19 has transformed the world for days ahead in every conceivable respect impacting massively the international travel, tourism demand and hospitality industry. The major thrust of the present article is to map out the implication of the Covid-19 outbreak on the global tourism industry in all countries and finds out the challenges they encountered in tourism and the plan of action to overthrow those challenges in the short and long periods of time. The study is an intellectual endeavour to examine the impact of the other supporting sectors, such as hospitality, air travel, transport and communication in the global context. The governments need to outline a master plan to keep workers in the tourism industry safe, without neglecting to render financial contributions supported with low-interest loans or grants to revive the industry. An exploration into how the industry will recover after Covid-19 and how the industry can be made sustainable in a drastically changed world is the need of the hour. Open communication is a key to strongly strive against the pandemic and government-sponsored loans are all-important for the continued existence of the tourism industry.

The Advance of Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 in Musaceae of Latin America and the Caribbean: Current Situation

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (syn. Fusarium odoratissimum) (Foc TR4) causes vascular wilt in Musaceae plants and is considered the most lethal for these crops. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), it was reported for the first time in Colombia (2019), later in Peru (2021), and recently declared in Venezuela (2023). This work aimed to analyze the evolution of Foc TR4 in Musaceae in LAC between 2018 and 2022. This perspective contains a selection of topics related to Foc TR4 in LAC that address and describe (i) the threat of Foc TR4 in LAC, (ii) a bibliometric analysis of the scientific production of Foc TR4 in LAC, (iii) the current situation of Foc TR4 in Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, (iv) medium-term prospects in LAC member countries, and (v) export trade and local food security. In this study, the presence of Foc TR4 in Venezuela and the possible consequences of the production of Musaceae in the long term were reported for the first time. In conclusion, TR4 is a major threat to banana production in Latin America and the world, and it is important to take measures to control the spread of the fungus and minimize its impact on the banana industry. It is important to keep working on the control of Foc TR4, which requires the participation of the local and international industry, researchers, and consumers, among others, to prevent the disappearance of bananas.

Global population genetic structure and lineage differentiation of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans.

The bloodsucking fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a cosmopolitan pest that transmits potential pathogens mechanically. We conduct phylogeographic analyses of S. calcitrans to resolve its global population genetic structure for establishing baseline of molecular studies. Results from mitochondrial gene suggested that the major divergence of S. calcitrans predominantly occurred 0.32-0.47 million years ago (Mya) and the subsequent diversifications took place during 0.13-0.27 Mya. The Ethiopian region was deduced as the most likely origin of S. calcitrans and the Nearctic lineages were considered to have originated from Oriental or Palaearctic regions. Our results further revealed that each biogeographic region of S. calcitrans likely maintains its genetic specialty, and yet, those non-monophyletic relationships were possibly caused by ancestral retention, dispersal with mammals, long-distance migration, and the international livestock industries. Moreover, the three highly diverged Ethiopian lineages may be putative cryptic species that require clarification of their veterinary importance. Unravelling the genetic structure of stable fly and preventing gene flow among biogeographic regions through anthropogenic activities are thus pivotal in livestock industry administration, particularly genetic exchange among differentiated lineages that might lead to the consequence of ecological trait alterations.

:Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black

:<i>Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black</i>

Development of the sex industry and the spread of prostitution in advanced European civilization

This paper presents a comprehensive sex industry typology based on primary data collected between 2020 and 2022. Contemporary sex industry typologies in Europe tend to be sector-specific or have been developed from specific disciplinary perspectives or themes (e.g. sexual health programs, income). Set within the typological context of the international sex industry, this paper seeks to address this gap. Data was obtained from online surveys, questionnaires and consultations with stakeholders including individuals currently or previously involved in selling sex, service providers/NGOs, police, local government representatives and others. The data is complemented by insights from a systematic literature search. This work aims to assist program and policy planning in the Europe context. Our method can help develop typologies in other contexts.

Distributed humanitarianism

AbstractWhen Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the world's largest humanitarian aid agencies were largely nowhere to be seen. In their absence, tens of thousands of volunteers from Ukraine, Poland, and further abroad helped the more than 16 million displaced and war‐affected Ukrainians. This massive volunteer response represents a case of “distributed humanitarianism,” a post‐Fordist form of humanitarian aid that disrupts the Fordist international aid industry that has existed since the end of World War II. Because it uses donated money, labor, and goods; avoids bureaucratic accountability measures; and relies on person‐to‐person aid chains, distributed humanitarianism is faster, more cost‐efficient, and more resilient than large‐scale institutionalized aid.

A multi-country analysis of transnational tobacco companies' market share.

The international tobacco market is dominated by five transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) which continue to interfere with measures to reduce tobacco consumption. The aim of this study is to better understand the current international tobacco industry market structure by providing an overview of the market share of these five companies globally. A longitudinal multi-country study design was used to understand market share trends across 90 different countries from 2011 to 2020. Descriptive analyses were conducted based on market share and market size data obtained from Euromonitor Passport. Market share (%), maximal market share (%) and cumulative market share (%) were calculated. Maps and boxplots are used to present the descriptive analyses. Median cumulative TTC market share and interquartile ranges for each year were calculated and stratified by country income level. The average maximal market share of one company in a country was 50% (IQR: 40.0-63.5) in 2020 compared to 51.5% in 2011 (IQR: 41.3-69.0). One of the five TTCs had the highest market share in 77 out of the 90 countries. Philip Morris International was the main market player in 38 countries, followed by British American Tobacco (24), Japan Tobacco International (8), Imperial Brands (6), and lastly China National Tobacco Corporation was only dominant in China. The percentage of cigarettes manufactured by one of the five TTCs remained relatively stable between 2011 (86.4%) and 2020 (85.2%). Average cumulative TTC market shares increased between 2011 and 2020 in both low- and middle-, and high-income countries. The international tobacco market is concentrated with a small number of large players, and this has not changed substantially between 2011 and 2020. The impact of this on the ability of the tobacco industry to resist policy changes is unknown but presents a cause for concern.

The Ups and Downs of Learning and Using English: Aviation Students’ Voices

Proficiency in English has become the standard language in the international aviation industry. To avoid accidents, all aviation personnel needs to communicate in English. The communication skills of aviation personnel should be developed during their studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate aviation students' successes and challenges in learning and using English. Six aircraft maintenance students from three different aviation schools in Malaysia participated in the study. Using a qualitative research design, the study collected information from open-ended interviews and document analysis gathered from online postings. The data were analyzed thematically and managed using ATLAS. ti software. Overall, the results showed that students experienced more successes than challenges in learning English. There were three themes categorized under successes and challenges: opportunities, feelings, and progress. The results could help course module developers and language teachers create modules that meet the needs of aviation students.

International practice analysis of the negative list: Chinese Example of shipping market access

The international shipping industry is unique and important. The negative list related to the opening up of the shipping industry is an important part of the reform and innovation of China’s pilot free trade zones. In recent years, as countries around the world continue to promote the process of opening up in the fields of trade and services, the negative list system has been used more in international investment and trade agreements. In the field of International Shipping, how to correctly grasp and apply the negative list system is an important topic. Starting with the general concept of the negative list system of shipping market access, this paper reviews and summarizes the developmental processes of the negative list of foreign capital market access in the shipping field since the establishment of Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. It compares and analyzes the international contracting practice of the European Union and the United States as reflected in the negative list of shipping market access. It equally points out that the system connection between the negative list still existing in China’s shipping field and the international high standard negative list is not enough. It argues that the transparency of the negative list still needs to be further strengthened, as the rules behind the list and the awareness of its risk prevention are weak. In view of these hitches, this paper makes some suggestions that are tilted towards improving the negative list system of China’s shipping market access. It also continues the optimization of the negative list of shipping market access and the improvement of a conscious awareness aimed at avoiding the possible risks of the negative list. Finally, it makes a strong argument for a continuous improvement of China’s international shipping competitiveness.

Challenges in Developing Aquaculture for Livelihood Enhancement in Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone

The study investigated socioeconomic characteristics, aquacultural practices and constraints among smallholder fish farmers in the study location of Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone. The present study employed a survey research design. The smallholder farmers who were growing food for themselves, for sale, and for consumption by others as well as those who were primarily growing it for the market were each given 40 questionnaires in total. The results revealed that most of the respondents were male (90.0%), married (60.0%), lacked training in fish farming (57.5%) and the household income of most (60.0%) ranged from NLe600-NLe1,000. The farmers mostly opined low fish farming experience (70.0%), Semi-intensive fish farming (67.5%), low aquaculture development (57.5%), predominantly seasonal fish pond irrigation (77.5%). All of the respondents’ view fish farming as an economically viable enterprise as well as a profitable (87.5%) entity. The mean rank of constraints was significantly (p ≤ 0.006) differed among fish farmers. The key fish farming constraints included culturing fish, fish feed in culturing fish, less interest, fewer fish farmers, high inputs, high cost of fish pond construction and intensive capital investment that could be exploited for improved productivity. The outcomes of these recent studies imply that fish farmers should receive training and funding for their operations to improve their competitiveness in their smallholder fish businesses as well as in the local and international aquaculture industries. Also, the governments and other practitioner authorities ought to implement policies and initiatives that would support fish farming activities, further research development in aquaculture, the development of the nation, and the fish farmers themselves.

Designing the Qualitative Model of the Mission-oriented Innovation System (MIS) in Order to Complete the Value Chain of Iron and Steel Industries in Ghadir International Mining and Industries Development Company

The purpose of this research is to design a qualitative model of the mission-oriented innovation system in order to complete the value chain of Ghadir iron and steel industries. the target population of the current research, included managers of Ghadir International Industries and Mines Development Company and its subsidiary companies and university professors who have conducted researches in the field of innovation system. The statistical sample selection method was the snowball sampling method. For this reason, 15 experts were selected until reaching saturation by snowball sampling method. In this research, unstructured open interview method was used to collect data and information for analysis. This research was conducted qualitatively using the data-based technique with the approach of Strauss and Corbin (1998) and with the help of Max Kyoda software. The findings of the research indicated that the causal factors of mission-oriented innovation include the systematic indicators of the mission-oriented innovation system, the characteristics of missions; The core category includes mission-oriented innovation process; Mission-oriented innovation platforms include creating mission-oriented innovation opportunities, developing steel industry infrastructure, necessary platforms for group learning; Intervening factors of mission-oriented innovation include weak planning and formulation of policies, technological barriers, research challenges; Mission-oriented innovation strategies include cultivating human resources, formulating mission-oriented policies, promoting technological policies, developing the innovation ecosystem; The consequences of mission-oriented innovation include the development and improvement of production processes, reduction of environmental effects, capital-oriented growth, transformation in the entire value chain.

Трансформация политики США, ЕС и КНР в области содействия развитию на фоне междержавного соперничества

The paper deals with official development assistance (ODA) policies of the USA, the EU and China in the comparative context of latest developments. The development approaches of the three actors under investigation demonstrate common features as well as idiosyncrasies in terms of management, resources, and ideological justification. All actors strive towards complex model of influence through ODA including tying together economic projects with sociocultural heft and security. The underlying trends characteristic of the USA, and in significant degree of the EU approaches combine traditional aim of reshaping sociopolitical institutions of target countries with growing securitization concerns. In the case of the U.S., one can speak of ‘militarization’ of ODA which means blurring the lines between military aid (and goalsetting) and traditional development assistance. China is on the way of reforming its international development cooperation industry, seeking to transform it into a more complex toolset of influence, better coordinated, and more closely knit to foreign policy and security objectives. In contrast to the Western paradigm, Beijing avoids imposing its model of development and threat perception upon the aid-recipient countries. The analysis concludes that “soft power” concept is being sidelined in the world of great power rivalry by more complex and hybrid formats of foreign influence which combine sociocultural, political, geoeconomic, and military instruments, with development assistance playing a role of one of the primary foreign policy resources. New dimensions of rivalry associated with industrial and technological race in energy, climate, and supply chains are coming to the fore in ODA policies. The role of sociocultural influence toolkit is growing given information and communication technologies progress, proliferation of non-state actors in international relations, and increasing activity of China in the area, which challenges the dominant positions the Western actors have enjoyed for over 30 years.

Third Country PNR Mechanisms After the CJEU’s Schrems II Judgment

The article illustrates how the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)’s Schrems II judgment solidified the European court’s approach to European Union (EU) data protection and the issues of data collection and transfer outside EU borders. The judgment rebalances how to arrange the issues containing the collection of private information and the risk to the public without surveillance. Thus, invalidating previously used EU-Third Country data sharing frameworks. Included in this are the Passenger Name Records (PNR), which are used in day-to-day mechanisms of the air industry when sharing bulk data sets with other countries to provide crucial information for anti-terrorism with border protection agencies. Not only does it protect national security, but makes flying safer. Though the EU argues it cannot sacrifice the integrity of individual data autonomy. Due to the Schrems II judgment, most other countries will be unable to pass new EU standards, and data transfer has to be judged on a case-by-case basis, which when looking at the international air industry is unfeasible. By exploring the Schrems II judgment, this article will analyze the third-country data transfer mechanisms and the impact the judgment had on third countries. Air law, PNR, CJEU, Schrems II, Privacy Shield, national security, European Data Protection, data transfer mechanisms, GDPR, Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC)

Literature Review on Effect of Sludge Age on Microbial Community Structure in HMBR

The composite membrane biological treatment process has the characteristics of high quality effluent and low membrane pollution, which is widely used in domestic and international water treatment industry. Based on the review of the basic research on membrane fouling mechanism and the comparison of the research results of MBR at home and abroad, from the perspective of microbial ecology, based on the new generation of environmental microbial analysis technology of high-throughput sequencing, this paper expounds the microbial ecological mechanism that sludge age changes the content of microbial metabolites and membrane fouling process by affecting the microbial community structure and physiological characteristics.

From Domination to Dialogue and the Ethics of the Between: Transforming Human-Working Equine Relationships in Mountain Tourism

The welfare of working equines is born of the relationship co-created with humans and the relational practices humans bring to this work. Our understanding of this relationship remains elusive, however, for it involves attending to that which arises both within and between the equine and the human. Attempts to study such relationships have, arguably, been confounded by the liminalities of relational practices, power literacy and the limitations of language, propositional knowing and the dualistic thinking that characterises many scientific disciplines. This paper presents the theoretical framework that underpins an experiential awareness- based Action Research approach to transforming human-equine relations within the international mountain tourism industry. This approach privileges curiosity, compassion and primary or contemplative knowing and the development of self-awareness. Drawing on the work of Martin Buber on genuine dialogue and of Otto Scharmer on generative dialogue, this paper provides insights into what can arise in the between when attitudinal shifts are encouraged and facilitated that allow humans and equines to meet genuinely and be fully present to each other. This ultimately involves surrendering control, letting go, the dissolution of subject-object awareness and access to non-dualistic ways of knowing. An awareness of the importance of such shifts and of the source from which we operate is of fundamental importance to the realisation of the co-creative project that humans and equines can engage in. Failure to appreciate this distinction, arguably, leads and gives rise to relationships, whether human-to-human or human-to-horse, characterised by domination rather than partnering, absencing rather than presencing, by monologue rather than dialogue. The ethical and practical implications of this awareness are profound, with implications felt at the level of the individual, for whom the I deepens the more you pay attention, and at the level of the relationship, but also at the level of communities, whether these be constituted locally, nationally, internationally or indeed globally.

"It Will Be Like a Town Here, Things Are Really Coming Up!": Inequality in Village-Based Cruise Ship Tourism in the Trobriand Islands

Abstract: Cruise ship tourism is a major player in the international tourism industry. This article examines the sociocultural ramifications of large-scale cruise ship tourism in the context of the Trobriand Islands, where unequal access to both the benefits and problematic aspects of this kind of tourism have implications for the reciprocal relations that are embedded in Trobriand society. It considers the "wicked problems" inherent in the discourses and practice of tourism as development, addressing the paradoxes and complexities that arise, especially where inequalities (between Trobriand Islanders and visitors and among Trobrianders from across the archipelago) are most apparent and difficult to resolve.