Title: The specifics of internationalisation process of Czech agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises

Authors: Marcela Tuzová; Martina Toulová; Lucie Veselá

Addresses: Department of Marketing and Trade, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic ' Department of Marketing and Trade, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic ' Department of Marketing and Trade, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract: The situation and performance of agricultural enterprises is an often discussed topic in the Czech Republic. Internationalisation, in other words the process of increasing involvement in international activities, is considered as one way enterprises can achieve growth and maintain their competitiveness. In this connection, the paper aims to explore the answer to the research question: What are the specifics of internationalisation of Czech agricultural SMEs? The attention is especially paid to the motives, barriers and risk factors of internationalisation of these enterprises. The paper deals with both agricultural SMEs that already expanded in foreign markets as well as with those that do not operate in foreign markets with stress on the reasons why they do not take part in internationalisation. The paper is based on primary data that were collected via questionnaire survey and personal interviews with Czech agricultural enterprises during 2014.

Keywords: SME internationalisation; small and medium-sized enterprises; agricultural SMEs; agriculture; proactive motives; reactive motives; barriers; risk factors; risk matrix; risk perception; lack of information; Czech Republic; foreign markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2016.078839

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2016 Vol.17 No.3, pp.384 - 403

Received: 09 Jun 2015
Accepted: 29 Oct 2015
Published online: 03 Sep 2016 *

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