Identify the export market attractiveness of Iran's free zones

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Business Management, Khorramshahr International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramshahr, Iran

2 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Izeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Izeh, Iran

Abstract

Increasing competition on a global scale has led to an increase in the number of companies looking for opportunities in international markets to achieve their goals, survive and maintain their market position. In a knowledge-based economy, the organizations’ intangible is increasingly becoming a competitive factor. Such assets are seen as the essence of competitive advantage. However, companies operating in international markets and unknown export environments face environmental uncertainty. The literature has merely addressed some aspects of export market attractiveness and comprehensive models with no comprehensive theories developed in the field. Therefore, this paper aims to systematically review and identify the factors and components of export market attractiveness in free zones. This paper adopts a Meta-synthesis method. This paper content analysis shows that the export market’s attractiveness in comprehensive themes includes internal and external factors. The building blocks of internal factors include marketing factors, information factors, and performance factors. The building blocks of external factors include procedural factors, government factors, customers, international markets, and the business environment.

Keywords

[1] G. Albaum, Effectiveness of government export assistance for US, Int. Market. Rev. 1 (1983), no. 1, 68–75.
[2] H. Amiri, M. Pirdadeh Beyranvand, F. Norouzi Amogin and S. Alizadeh, Estimation vulnerability and resilience indicators in Iran economy, Quart. J. Macro Strategic Polic. 6 (2018), no. 23, 434–455.
[3] A. Da Rocha, Y.A. Freitas and J.F.D. Dilva, Do perceived export barriers change over time? A longitudinal study of Brazilian exporters of manufactured goods, Latin Amer. Bus. Rev. 9 (2008), no. 1, 102–128.
[4] T.S. Erdil and O. Ozdemir, The determinants of relationship between marketing mix strategy and drivers of export performance in foreign markets: An application on Turkish clothing industry, Proc.-Soc. Behav. Sci. 235 (2016), 546–556.
[5] A.A. Esfandiari, S. Moqaddas Hosseynzadeh and M. Delavari, Evaluation of Iran’s free trade zones and its effects on economic development of these zones, Econ. Res. 8 (2008), no. 28, 119–146.
[6] M. Falahat, T. Ramayahb, P. Soto-Acosta and Y.-Y. Lee, SMEs internationalization: The role of product innovation, market intelligence, pricing and marketing communication capabilities as drivers of SMEs’ international performance, Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change 152 (2020), 119908.
[7] M.´A. Gallego and J.C. Casillas, Choice of markets for initial export activities: Differences between early and late exporters, Int. Bus. Rev. 23 (2014), no. 5, 1021–1033.
[8] M. Ghorban Beigi, The effect of market orientation on export performance with the mediating role of innovation capability of exporting companies in Markazi province, M.Sc. Thesis, Islamic Azad University, Naragh Branch, 2016.
[9] K.M. Green, J.G. Covin and D.P. Slevin, Exploring the relationship between strategic reactiveness and entrepreneurial orientation: The role of structure-style fit, J. Bus. Ventur. 23 (2014), 356–380.
[10] G. Gripsrud, The determinants of export decision and attitude to a distant market: Norwegian fishery export to Japan, J. Int. Bus. Stud. 21 (1990), no. 3, 469–485.
[11] A. Haahti, V. Madupu, U. Yavas and E. Babakus, Cooperative strategy, knowledge intensity and export performance of small and medium sized enterprises, J. World Bus. 40 (2005), no. 2, 124–138.
[12] B. Hajipour, F. Jafarizadeh and F. Rahimi, The impact of strategic orientation and marketing capabilities on export performance, Bus. Manag. Persp. 55 (2015), no. 22.
[13] S. Hejazifar, F. Rahnavard, M. Latifi and H. Taherpour Kalantari, A study of Islamic Sovereignty studies in Iran using the hypertext method, Manag. Govern. Organ. 6 (2017), no. 1, 69–97.
[14] R. Helm and S. Gritsch, Examining the influence of uncertainty on marketing mix strategy elements in emerging business to business export-markets, Int. Bus. Rev. 23 (2014), no. 2, 418–428.
[15] R.C. Hook and M.R. Czinkota, Export activities and prospects of Hawaiian firms, Int. Market. Rev. 5 (1988), no. 4, 51–57.
[16] I. Ipek and N. Bıcakcıoglu-Peynirci, Export market orientation: An integrative review and directions for future research, Int. Bus. Rev. 29 (2020), no. 4, p. 101659.
[17] J. Johnson and G.J. Vahlne, Drivers of success for market entry into China and India, J. Market. 72 (2009), 1–13.
[18] C.C. Julian, O. Mohamad, Z.U. Ahmed and S. Sefnedi, The market orientation– performance relationship: The empirical link in export ventures, Thunderbird Int. Bus. Rev. 56 (2014), no. 1, 97–110.
[19] F. Kabiri and S. Mokshapathy, A survey on export barriers faced by small and medium sized enterprises in Iran, Indian J. Innov. Dev. 1 (2012), no. 7, 549–455.
[20] E. Kaimakoudi, K. Polymeros and C. Batziosc, Investigating export performance and competitiveness of Balkan and eastern European fisheries sector, Procedia Econ. Finance 9 (2014), 219–230.
[21] M.H. Karim and H. Amiri, Strategies and challenges of resistance and austerity economy, Quart. J. Macro Strategic Polic. 5 (2018), no. 5, 61–80.
[22] A. Kayaba,sı and T. Mtetwa, Impact of marketing effectiveness and capabilities, and export market orientation on export performance: Evidence from Turkey, Eur. Bus. Rev. 28 (2016), no. 5.
[23] J. Kim and M. Hemmert, What drives the export performance of small and medium-sized subcontracting firms? A study of Korean manufacturers, Int. Bus. Rev. 25 (2016), no. 2, 511–521.
[24] M.M. Kim Man, The relationship between distinctive capabilities, innovativeness, strategy types and the export performance of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) of Malaysian manufacturing sector, Manag. 4 (2010), no. 3, 205–223.
[25] L. Leonidou, An Analysis of the barriers hindering small business export development, J. Small Bus. Manag. 42 (2004), no. 3, 279–302.
[26] S. Li, Developing strategy with MarStra: The support system and the real world tests, Market. Intel. Plan. 18 (2000), no. 3, 135–143.
[27] J.H. Love and S. Roper, SME innovation, exporting and growth: A review of existing evidence, Int. Small Bus. J. 33 (2015), no. 1, 28–48.
[28] J. McCombie and A.P. Thirlwall, Economic growth and the balance-of-payments constraint, Springer, 2016.
[29] R.E. Morgan and C.S. Katsikeas, Obstacles to export initiation and expansion, Int. J. Manag. Sci. 25 (1997), no. 6, 677–690.
[30] T. Mysen, Towards a framework for controls as determinants of export performance: A review and analysis of empirical literature 1995–2011, Eur. Bus. Rev. 25 (2013), no. 3, 224–242.
[31] A. Navarro-Garcıa, M.J. Sanchez-Franco and M. Rey-Moreno, Relational governance mechanisms in export activities, their determinants and consequences, J. Bus. Res. 69 (2015), no. 11, 4750-4756.
[32] J.C. Pinho and L. Martins, Exporting barriers: Insights from Portuguese small and medium-sized exporters and non-exporters, J. Int. Entrepr. 8 (2010), no. 3, 254–272.
[33] A.H. Pour Jabbari Khameneh, The impact of export market orientation on international trade performance with the mediating role of company innovation capability, New Res. Approach. Manag. Account. 3 (2018), no. 17, 117–128.
[34] S. Rabino, An examination of barriers to exporting encountered by small manufacturing companies, Manag. Int. Rev. 20 (1980), no. 1, 67–73.
[35] S.H. Rahman, Modelling of international market selection process: A qualitative study of successful Australian international businesses, Qual. Market Res.: Int. J. 6 (2003), no. 2, 119–132.
[36] M. Rezagholizadeh and M. Aghaei, Export-led growth hypothesis: Empirical evidence of industry sector in aggregate and sub-sectors in Iran, Quart. J. Macro Strategic Polic. 5 (2018), no. 20, 40–60.
[37] G.M. Rose and S. Shoham, Export performance and market orientation: Establishing an empirical link, J. Bus. Res. 55 (2002), 217–225.
[38] M. Sandelowski, J. Barroso and C.I. Voils, Using qualitative metasummary to synthesize qualitative and quantitative descriptive findings, Res. Nurs. Health 30 (2007), no. 1, 99–111.
[39] J. Sarabia Francisco, Model for market segments evaluation and selection, Eur. J. Market. 30 (1996), no. 4, 58–74.
[40] V. Shaw and J. Darroch, Barriers to internationalization: A study of entrepreneurial new ventures in New Zealand, J. Int. Entrepr. 2 (2004), 327–343.
[41] L. Simkin and S. Dibb, Prioritizing target markets, Market. Intel. Plan. 16 (1998), no. 7, 407–417.
[42] G.A. Tabarsa and Y. Akhlaghi, Presenting and describing the system model for evaluating international market attractiveness using for Afghan exporters, New Market. Res. J. 3 (2013), no. 1, 97–118.
[43] G.A. Tabarsa, A. Rezaian, M.R. Hamidizadeh and Y. Akhlaghi, Designing a model for improving export performance for Afghan exporters through market-related information and firms and through the management of the marketing mix, Bus. Manag. Persp. 12 (2012), no. 15, 137–152.
[44] M. Taqavi and M. Rezaei, The effect of factors other than liberalization policy on attracting foreign direct investment in Iran’s free trade-industrial zones, Econ. Res. J. 10 (2010), no. 1, 15–40.
[45] C.R. Taylor, S. Zou and G.E. Osland, Foreign market entry strategies of Japanese MNCs, Int. Market. Rev. 17 (2000), no. 2, 146163.
[46] G. Tesfom and C. Lutz, A classification of export marketing problems of small and medium sized manufacturing firms in developing countries, Int. J. Emerg. Market. 1 (2006), no. 3, 262–281.
[47] J.J. Waters, Achieving world trade organization compliance for export processing zones while maintaining economic competitiveness for developing countries, Duke Law Rev. 63 (2013), 481–524.
[48] V.R. Wood and K.R. Robertson, Evaluating international markets: The importance of information by industry, by country of destination, and by type of export transaction, Int. Market. Rev. 17 (2000), no. 1, 34–55.
[49] A. Yaprak, An empirical study of the differences between small exporting and non-exporting US firms, Int. Market. Rev. 2 (1985), no. 2, 72–83.
[50] B. Yoo, N. Donthu and S. Lee, An examination of selected marketing mix elements and brand equity, J. Acad. Market. Sci. 28 (2000), no. 2, 195–211.
Volume 14, Issue 9
September 2023
Pages 317-328
  • Receive Date: 09 February 2022
  • Revise Date: 26 March 2022
  • Accept Date: 11 April 2022