Trade Promotion Research Articles

The Stabilization and Association Agreements in the Western Balkans as a tool for trade promotion and regional reconciliation

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) on the economic development of the Western Balkans. The basic aim of this agreement was the economic development of the countries of this region. Many firms would benefit from trade and contractual relationships with the European Union (EU). The methodology used is the gravity model, which predicts bilateral trade flows based on the economic sizes and distance between the EU and the Western Balkans. The model has been used in international relations to evaluate the impact of treaties on trade, and it has been used to test the effectiveness of trade agreements on the economy. Statistics of export, import, economic growth, etc. have been provided for a ten-year period 2007–2017. This paper is based on the research of Qorraj (2016), Qorraj and Jusufi (2018), and Leka et al. (2022). The relevance of the paper depends on that, within the ten years, there was no significant increase in the exports of these countries to the EU market. This paper concludes that the SAA has not ensured the export growth of these countries because products originating from this region are not competitive in the EU market, EU exports to this region have increased more than the other way around.

Research on Strategies to Enhance the Trade Promotion Function of Dalian International Exhibitions

Research on Strategies to Enhance the Trade Promotion Function of Dalian International Exhibitions

Building Strong International VET Networks

International Vocational Education and Training networks - VET - are essential platforms for global collaboration, addressing complex societal challenges and promoting sustainable development. This paper focuses on their role of the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (referred to as AHKs in German, short for “Auslandshandelskammern”) within the Y-Mas project, which aims to tackle these challenges through education and training. Key to the effectiveness of international VET networks are diverse organizations and institutions working together towards shared goals. The Association of AHKs is a crucial player in this regard. Based in Germany, the AHKs bridge the gap between German companies and their foreign counterparts, promoting and supporting the establishment of VET networks. Their comprehensive services, including market research, trade promotion, and networking opportunities, facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange. This paper adopts a research methodology comprising a literature review on international VET networks and qualitative case studies involving four German organizations operating in Latin America. The findings highlight the important contributions of these networks in fostering cross-cultural dialogue, facilitating partnerships, and disseminating innovative practices. International VET networks are instrumental in promoting global cooperation and addressing diverse challenges in vocational education and training. By leveraging the expertise and resources of various stakeholders, these networks enhance the quality and relevance of vocational education, benefiting individuals, businesses, and societies.

Studying Foreign Trade and Economic Growth of Morocco using Regression and Grey Relational Analyses

The study conducts an empirical examination of the relationship between foreign trade and economic growth in Morocco, employing two distinct analytical models: The Dynamic Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) model and the Multiple Regression model. The empirical outcomes reveal that foreign trade exerts a statistically significant and positive influence on the economic growth of Morocco, a relationship consistently substantiated by both the GRA and regression models. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that the linkage between these variables is characterized by a high degree of dynamism, influenced by a diverse array of economic determinants. Furthermore, the results point to the primary pathway through which foreign trade impacts economic growth in Morocco, highlighting its role in fostering capital accumulation and technological progress. Consequently, this study implies that strategic policies oriented toward the promotion of foreign trade and foreign investment have the potential to significantly bolster sustained economic growth within the Moroccan context.

Future of Digital Commerce with Online Network for Digital Commerce

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a revolutionizing and ground-breaking initiative first announced in 2020 that is aimed to forever change the world of digital commerce by using new concepts like openness and inclusivity. It is designed to provide safe and secure interoperable digital transactions that go beyond geographical boundaries, enabling users to participate in businesses of all sizes and economies. It also provides standard formats and APIs to ensure cross-compatibility between different platforms, marketplaces, and logistics support. ONDC also puts a great amount of care and emphasis on data privacy, security, robust transactions, and encryption and also encourages user empowerment and allows an individual to manage their data and information to produce maximum trust and transparency between participants. This platform also aims to bring new opportunities by supporting merchants of all levels despite their scale and size and helping them get on online platforms. It will allow both consumers and sellers to engage and trade online regardless of the platform they are using. It is an initiative provided by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was implemented and registered as a non-profit company on December 31, 2021.

The Extension of the UTAUT2 Model: A Case Study of Indonesian SMEs Acceptance of Social Commerce

An entirely updated e-commerce platform referred to as Social Commerce was developed in response to the rise in social media use. Social commerce integrates interactions between buyers and sellers made possible by social media platforms and Web 2.0 technology. It is frequently seen as a subfield of e-commerce. Social commerce has been successfully introduced in developing countries. Many businesses around the world are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For instance, SMEs in Indonesia can contribute up to 60.34% of the country's GDP and have a substantial labor pool. Using social commerce as an e-commerce platform can significantly improve the operational efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, little empirical research has specifically examined how SMEs embrace social commerce. Given the high level of concern, further research is required. Therefore, the current study experimentally examined how local SMEs in rural Indonesia introduced social commerce. The study was modeled using the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use (UTAUT) 2 model and several previous studies. SmartPLS 4 software was used to model and evaluate data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings of the 114 samples showed that relative advantage, social support, facilitation conditions, and the government's support of social commerce influenced behavioral intention to use social commerce. Behavioral intention to use social commerce influences the actual use of social commerce. The findings of this study can help local governments and policymakers develop social trade promotion regulations to help potential SMEs and entrepreneurs gain long-term business support.

The Extension of the UTAUT2 Model: A Case Study of Indonesian SMEs Acceptance of Social Commerce

An entirely updated e-commerce platform referred to as Social Commerce was developed in response to the rise in social media use. Social commerce integrates interactions between buyers and sellers made possible by social media platforms and Web 2.0 technology. It is frequently seen as a subfield of e-commerce. Social commerce has been successfully introduced in developing countries. Many businesses around the world are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For instance, SMEs in Indonesia can contribute up to 60.34% of the country's GDP and have a substantial labor pool. Using social commerce as an e-commerce platform can significantly improve the operational efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, little empirical research has specifically examined how SMEs embrace social commerce. Given the high level of concern, further research is required. Therefore, the current study experimentally examined how local SMEs in rural Indonesia introduced social commerce. The study was modeled using the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use (UTAUT) 2 model and several previous studies. SmartPLS 4 software was used to model and evaluate data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings of the 114 samples showed that relative advantage, social support, facilitation conditions, and the government's support of social commerce influenced behavioral intention to use social commerce. Behavioral intention to use social commerce influences the actual use of social commerce. The findings of this study can help local governments and policymakers develop social trade promotion regulations to help potential SMEs and entrepreneurs gain long-term business support.

The Extension of the UTAUT2 Model: A Case Study of Indonesian SMEs Acceptance of Social Commerce

An entirely updated e-commerce platform referred to as Social Commerce was developed in response to the rise in social media use. Social commerce integrates interactions between buyers and sellers made possible by social media platforms and Web 2.0 technology. It is frequently seen as a subfield of e-commerce. Social commerce has been successfully introduced in developing countries. Many businesses around the world are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For instance, SMEs in Indonesia can contribute up to 60.34% of the country's GDP and have a substantial labor pool. Using social commerce as an e-commerce platform can significantly improve the operational efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, little empirical research has specifically examined how SMEs embrace social commerce. Given the high level of concern, further research is required. Therefore, the current study experimentally examined how local SMEs in rural Indonesia introduced social commerce. The study was modeled using the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use (UTAUT) 2 model and several previous studies. SmartPLS 4 software was used to model and evaluate data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings of the 114 samples showed that relative advantage, social support, facilitation conditions, and the government's support of social commerce influenced behavioral intention to use social commerce. Behavioral intention to use social commerce influences the actual use of social commerce. The findings of this study can help local governments and policymakers develop social trade promotion regulations to help potential SMEs and entrepreneurs gain long-term business support.

Fruit and vegetable consumer preferences of Japanese and Vietnam’s export potential

This study analyses consumer preferences of the Japanese for vegetables and fruits using secondary data. Additionally, to analyse Vietnam’s potential export of fruits and vegetables, this study interviewed 53 Japanese consumers. The Japanese have long embraced a healthy lifestyle. Eighty percent of the Japanese participants in the survey consume fruit and vegetable products daily or 2-3 times a week. They have a wide range of places from which to purchase vegetables and fruits. From the perspective of Japanese consumers, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products are more diverse and cheaper than those from the US, China, Thailand, etc. However, their quality is perceived to be inferior to that of these countries. The total value of Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to the Japanese market is quite modest, representing less than 2%. Therefore, to promote the export of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits to the Japanese market, Vietnamese enterprises should undertake the following activities simultaneously: (i) Establish an import market assessment room/centre in each Vietnamese exporting enterprise; (ii) Conduct an in-depth market study of fruit and vegetables in Japan; (iii) Improve understanding of consumer culture in Japan; (iv) Ensure quality of exported fruits and vegetables; and (v) Enhance trade promotion activities.

Exploring economic development and mineral rents nexus across BRICS nations: Fresh insights from multiple threshold panel analysis

The nexus between economic development and mineral rent across Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) is empirically tested by using multiple threshold panel analysis. This paper focuses on the association and correlation among Mineral Rents (% of GDP) and Gross Domestic Product per capita along with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Trade, and Renewable Energy Consumption per Capita, by using the data sets for the period 1994–2021. Dynamic Liner Model and Double Threshold models are used for empirical testing of the above variables. The Dynamic Liner Model identified the positive influence of trade and FDI on mineral rent; and the Double Threshold models identified the negative influence of GDP, trade, and FDI on mineral rent. The findings contribute to the literature about mineral rent and economic growth. Moreover, the findings of this paper help in planning policies and interventions for inclusive and sustainable economic development, GDP enhancement, promotion of trade, and FDI in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) by considering mineral rent management. This paper also recommends considering the mineral rent taxation, mineral royalty, mine-community conflicts, corruption, institutional development, politics, and environmental issues before policy implementation and reforms related to economic development, GDP enhancement, promotion of trade, and FDI in BRICS.

Factors Affecting the Decision of Orange and Grapefruit Farmers’ Conversion to Organic Farming: The Case of Tuyen Quang Province, Vietnam

Conversion from conventional agriculture production to organic farming methods has become a positive trend in Tuyen Quang, a mountainous northern province in Viet Nam. In the recent years, the local authorities and many households have shown many efforts to convert the production area of oranges and grapefruits into organic farming. Although, the results have not met the expectation, the local government still encourages farmers follow organic production because of its benefits. The study used descriptive statistical methods and conducted interviews with 120 organic and 120 conventional production households. By using logistic regression model, this study pointed out positive factors affecting famers’ organic conversion decision that includes oranges and grapefruits cultivation size, profits from oranges and grapefruits, organic production technical training. Some recommendations are proposed to promote the transition from conventional production to organic agriculture are increasing awareness training on organic agriculture for farmers, planning of organic production areas, enhancing trade promotion and market connection activities in order to increase the consumption of organic products.

Analysis of the impact of personal selling, promotion, and brand image on the purchase decision of Mitsubishi cars at PT Dipo International Pahala Otomotif

This research aims to examine the influence of personal selling, promotion, and brand image on the purchase decision of Mitsubishi cars at PT Dipo International Pahala Otomotif. The declining phenomenon in purchase decisions is evident from the decrease in the number of units sold. Personal selling is currently focused only on exhibitions in shopping centers, thus not operating optimally. The promotions tend to rely more on discounts and less varied trade promotions, providing limited choices for consumers. The well-known brand image of Mitsubishi, perceived positively by consumers for its quality, is acknowledged. The research methodology employs quantitative research with data analysis using descriptive methods. The population in this study consists of 128 customers at PT Dipo International Pahala Otomotif, with a sample determined through simple random sampling, totaling 97 customers. The conclusions drawn from the research indicate that, both partially and simultaneously, personal selling, promotion, and brand image have a positive and significant impact on purchase decisions, with a coefficient of determination of 93.8%.

India - Nepal Foreign Relations in the Context of Economics: Late 20th- Early 21st Century

In the context of the economy, India's foreign policy toward Nepal is defined by a complicated mix of cooperation and rivalry, with both nations attempting to strike a balance between their different interests while navigating a variety of political, economic, and strategic problems. Through a number of initiatives over the past few years, including the extension of a line of credit to support infrastructure development, the creation of an India-Nepal Joint Economic Commission, and the promotion of cross-border trade and investment, India has sought to deepen its economic ties with Nepal. These efforts have been aimed at boosting economic growth and development in Nepal while enhancing India's regional influence. However, India's foreign policy towards Nepal has also faced criticism, with some arguing that it prioritizes its own interests over Nepal's. This has led to tensions between the two countries, with Nepal seeking to diversify its economic and diplomatic ties beyond India. In this study, the trade, investment, aid, and tourism relations between India and Nepal are examined. It looks at how the economic hegemony of India and Nepal shaped the two countries' economic ties. The study also looks into the challenges and opportunities for the India-Nepal economic partnership. It investigates the issues related to trade barriers, infrastructure development, and energy cooperation. Additionally, this study examines the impact of political and diplomatic factors on the economic relationship between India and Nepal. The research is based on a combination of primary and secondary sources, including interviews with key stakeholders, economic data analysis, and a review of relevant literature. The findings of this study suggest that the economic relationship between India and Nepal has been significant and mutually beneficial, but there are several challenges that need to be addressed to realize the full potential of the partnership. Overall, this study offers insights into the prospects and challenges for deepening the economic relationships between the two countries as well as a better knowledge of the economic aspects of India-Nepal foreign relations.

Challenges to achieving the social forestry goal of alleviating poverty in Eastern Indonesia

Around 1.3 million rural poor individuals reside in Eastern Indonesia, where the government, via the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, aims to enhance the economy by granting access to forest management through social forestry (SF) programs. This study focuses on identifying challenges in implementing SF to alleviate poverty in the region, which remains understudied. Desk research through a literature review of secondary data was conducted to analyze in order to propose recommendations. The primary challenge faced by farmers is the marketing of forest products, due to geographical constraints and limited infrastructure. To address this, a strategy for developing export-oriented forest products is crucial to increase their value and offset high transportation costs. Empowering farmers with market knowledge and skills through training, technical assistance, and access to market information is urgently needed. Successful implementation of SF programs requires collaboration among the government, communities, companies, and other stakeholders. Additionally, improving transportation infrastructure is vital to overcome logistical barriers. Supportive policies from the government, such as simplifying export procedures, tax exemptions, and promotion of international trade, play a crucial role in facilitating the export of forest products. These collective efforts can contribute significantly to poverty alleviation in Eastern Indonesia through SF initiatives.

Will the Grain Imports Competition Effect Reverse Land Green Efficiency of Grain Production? Analysis Based on Virtual Land Trade Perspective

To explore new strategies to improve the efficiency of land for grain production in China, this study empirically investigates the relationship between the grain imports competition effect and the efficiency of land for grain production from the perspective of virtual land trade based on the new-new trade theory and induced technological innovation theory. We obtained the following conclusions: (1) Overall, the efficiency of land for grain production showed a slow upward trend from 2003 to 2020, with a growth rate of 27.53%. Among them, the efficiency of land for grain production in the Huang-Huai-Hai and northeast regions has increased by 66.41% and 36.30%, respectively. (2) The grain imports competition effect reduces the profitability of domestic grain production through shocks and forces the improvement of China’s grain production land efficiency. It is caused by the trade-for-competition effect. Importing a large number of grain products with lower land use costs reduces the profits of grain producers in the domestic market through shocks, gradually eliminating producers with less efficient land use, thus forcing the improvement of land use efficiency in domestic grain production. (3) The grain imports competition effect is stronger because the developed livestock industry in the northern region requires the import of large quantities of soybeans and corn, and other virtual land content is much lower than the domestic feed grain. Also, the marginal effect of the grain imports competition effect is stronger due to the presence of more producers with less efficient land for grain production in non-major grain-producing regions, which are more likely to be eliminated by market shocks from imports. This study verifies the applicability of the trade promotion competition effect and induces the technological innovation effect in the field of grain trade, which extends the research boundary of virtual land trade in grain.

Does Green Food Certification promote agri-food export quality? Evidence from China

The construction of a food certification system plays a vital role in upgrading export quality, which previous studies have largely overlooked. We match China's industry-level data of Green Food Certification with its HS6-digit export data of agri-food products to quantify the impact of Green Food Certification on export quality. We identify the significant and positive effect of Green Food Certification on export quality. The 2SLS estimation based on instrumental variables and a range of robustness checks confirm the validity and robustness of the benchmark conclusions. Further analysis discloses that Green Food Certification improves export quality by raising agricultural production efficiency and brand premiums. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of Green Food Certification varies across regions, notably improving the quality of agri-food products exported to developed regions and regions with high levels of import supervision. Furthermore, among various product types, Green Food Certification significantly improves the export quality of primary products and products vulnerable to non-tariff measures. The above findings could guide the future development of agri-food quality certification systems, potentially leading to a transformation and promotion of the agri-food trade.

The Latin American Integration Route (RILA), in the face of the UN 2030 Agenda

The Latin American Integration Route (RILA), or bioceanic corridor, is a project aiming to integrate Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) with the Ports of Northern Chile. The city of Porto Murtinho (MS), located on the banks of the Paraguay River, is where a bridge is being built to connect this city to the municipality of Carmelo Peralta, in Paraguay. The challenge is that this corridor is not only a catalyst for development, expanding its benefits beyond the already consolidated export sectors, but that it also opens up opportunities for the promotion of intra-regional trade, tourism, culture, education, in line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG. This article aims to discuss the RILA in view of the UN 2030 Agenda, from a debate on the concept of development. This is a qualitative study, conducted in the SciELO database and in documents from ECLAC, IPEA, among others. Bardin's content analysis methodology was adopted for data discussion. It is concluded that the development promised by Brazilian governments with RILA must be an inclusive and sustainable development to bring prosperity and peace to everyone and not just to grain, cellulose, and meat exporters. And that the authorities of Porto Murtinho, through their public policy agendas, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda, develop programs aimed at workers, so that they can work in the jobs that will emerge.Keywords: RILA; SDG; sustainable development; work; Income.

Pengaruh Promosi Penjualan H&M terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Konsumen

Sales promotion is important for every business in any field and industry. Because sales promotion has the benefit of increasing sales and also to introduce products from a brand. The sales promotion carried out by H&M is to create an Up to 50% End of Season Sale. This study aims to measure how much influence H&M Sales Promotion has on Consumer Purchasing Decisions. The main theory used in this study is which includes three dimensions, namely Consumer Promotion, Trade Promotion and Salesperson Promotion. The data collection technique used is Random Sampling. This research is indicated by the average value of respondents' answers to variable X of 4.42 where the value is classified as high (agree). and the average on variable Y of 4.32 which has a value classified as high (agree). the influence of H & M Sales Promotion on Consumer Purchasing Decisions can be seen from the (R) correlation of 0.785 which is fairly high and the R square value of 0.616 or 61.1% of the effect while the rest is influenced by other things.

The impact of corporate digital transformation on the export product quality: Evidence from Chinese enterprises.

The digital economy has become a driving force in the rapid development of the global economy and the promotion of export trade. Pivotal in its advent, the digital transformation of enterprises utilizes cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies to provide an impetus for evolution and transformation in various industries and fields. in enhancing quality and efficiency. This has been critical for enhancing both quality and efficiency in enterprises based in the People's Republic of China. Through the available data on its listed enterprises, this paper measures their digital transformation through a textual analysis and examines how this transformation influences their export product quality. We then explore the possible mechanisms at work in this influence from the perspective of enterprise heterogeneity. The results find that: (1) Digital transformation significantly enhances the export product quality in an enterprises, and the empirical findings still hold after a series of robustness tests; (2) Further mechanism analysis reveals that the digital transformation can positively affect export product quality through the two mechanisms of process productivity (φ), the ability to produce output using fewer variable inputs, and product productivity (ξ), the ability to produce quality with fewer fixed outlays; (3) In terms of enterprise heterogeneity, the impact of digital transformation on export product quality is significant for enterprises engaged in general trade or high-tech industries and those with strong corporate governance. In terms of heterogeneity in digital transformation of enterprise and the regional digital infrastructure level, the higher the level of digital transformation and regional digital infrastructure, the greater the impact of digital transformation on export product quality. This paper has practical implications for public policies that offer vital aid to enterprises as they seek digital transformation to remain sync with the digital economy, upgrade their product quality, and drive the sustainable, high-quality, and healthy development of their nation's economy.

Searching common security in the Bay of Bengal

ABSTRACT The Bay of Bengal gained greater importance as an economic hub when the Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand – Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) initiative was established in 1997. Besides the promotion of trade and investment, security issues have also become a common concern for BIMSTEC members since 2005. In contrast to other regional organisations BIMSTEC member states share common perspectives of many non-traditional security threats. Even if regional solutions with all member states may be difficult to achieve this has opened the space for bilateral or mini-lateral initiatives mainly under India’s leadership. The BIMSTEC summit in 2022 has strengthened the institutional framework of the organisation that should help to tackle common security challenges.