Title: Internationalisation of SMEs: a comparative perspective between Africa and Latin America

Authors: António Carrizo Moreira; Cláudia P. Ribau; Marta Isabel Valente Borges

Addresses: DEGEIT, GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal; INESC TEC, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal ' ISCA-UA, GOVCOPP, R. Associação Humanitária dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Aveiro, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-500, Portugal ' DEGEIT, University of Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal

Abstract: This paper explores the internationalisation of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Africa and Latin America. A total of 97 papers covering the period between 1995 and 2017 were analysed, providing a unique comparative perspective of the internationalisation of SMEs. The analysis of the papers revealed the following six main topics: international networking; financing, export promotion; internationalisation strategies; resources and business environment/context; e-business, e-commerce; and barriers to internationalisation. The topic 'internationalisation strategies' is the most researched topic both regarding the internationalisation of both African and Latin American SMEs. However, while the studies on Latin American SMEs focus on rapid internationalisation, international entrepreneurship orientation and export performance, the studies on African SMEs focus on supply performance, international behaviour, internationalisation process, knowledge and key-selection of foreign markets. This provides a clear perspective on how SMEs of those two emerging continents deal with the intricacies of internationalisation.

Keywords: SME; internationalisation; SMEs; small firms; literature review; Africa; Latin America.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2024.136944

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2024 Vol.51 No.4, pp.513 - 541

Received: 16 Jun 2020
Accepted: 15 Jul 2021
Published online: 01 Mar 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article