Title: An assessment model of investment environment in free trade port zone - an empirical study on Kaohsiung port

Authors: Show-Hui S. Huang; Wen-Kai K. Hsu; Kuan-Yu A. Chen

Addresses: Department of Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions and Trade Marketing, Shu-Te University, 59, Hun Shan Rd., Yen Chau District, Kaohsiung County 82445, Taiwan ' Department of Shipping and Transportation Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, 142, Hai Jhuan Rd., Nanzih District, Kaohsiung County, 81157, Taiwan ' Kaohsiung 118/119 Terminal, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd., 40, Qijin 1st Rd., Qijin District., Kaohsiung County, 805006, Taiwan

Abstract: This paper proposes an assessment model of investment environment in free trade port zone (FTPZ). Based on the features of FTZPs and relevant literature, the assessment factors (AFs) of investment environment are first investigated. An assessment model based on an improved analytic network process (IANP) approach is then proposed to evaluate the investment environment in FTPZ from foreign manufacturers' perspectives. Finally, to validate the assessment model, the foreign manufacturers around FTPZ of Kaohsiung port (KP-FTPZ) in Taiwan were empirically investigated, by which some managerial implications and suggestions were proposed. The results could provide practical information for FTPZ managers to improve their FTPZs' investment environments. Further, the proposed IANP approach could also provide theoretical references for methodological research in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM).

Keywords: free trade port zone; FTPZ; foreign direct investment; FDI; analytic network process; ANP; multi-criteria decision making; MCDM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2022.122422

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2022 Vol.14 No.3, pp.302 - 319

Accepted: 12 Dec 2020
Published online: 25 Apr 2022 *

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