Barriers for wood processing companies to enter foreign markets: a case study in Slovakia

Abstract

In this study, barriers to internationalization for wood processing and wood trading firms in Slovakia are identified. Specifically, the perceptions of 62 Slovak firms were examined regarding entry into European Union markets. In addition to competitive issues, the influence of previous experience with international business and firm size on perceptions of barriers to enter foreign markets was examined. Results suggest that foreign competition is considered to be the most significant barrier due to a low level of innovation from domestic companies. In addition, the need to invest in promotional activities and limited access to capital are also significant barriers to entry into EU markets. Firm size was not found to be correlated with market barriers and no significant differences in perception of barriers was found between firm owners and managers.

A Course of Innovations in Wood Processing Industry within the Forestry-Wood Chain in Slovakia: A Q Methodology Study to Identify Future Orientation in the Sector

“…This identification should be an important impulse for the companies to identify trends and to assume consecutive arrangements, improvements and innovations for selected products [39] in implementing the quality management systems with the aim of ensuring a higher efficiency in the whole sector [40]. Therefore, the forest sector must continually strive to improve or at least to maintain its market performance [41]. Results of the study by Kaputa et al [42] also confirm that foreign competition is considered to be the most significant barrier for the Slovak exporters of wood products followed by the need to invest in promotional activities and limited access to capital.…”

Initial Public Offering (IPO) as a Potential Source of Capital for the Development of the Wood-based Industry Enterprises in Poland

“…Having the shares admitted for trading Source: authors' own study based on (Wanat et al, 2018a, 138-146) The effect of initial public offerings is understood as a state reflecting the level of development of the company, resulting from investments financed with funds coming from the issue of shares (Boot and Thakor, 1997;Chudobiecki et al, 2009;Levine, 2012;Jin et al, 2017;Sarniak and Wanat, 2017;Sarniak, 2018). The aim of the study was to analyze the way the selected wood-based industry companies use the capital raised on the Warsaw Stock Exchange who held their initial public offering in 2005-2017 (Jonsson, 2012;Wanat et al, 2013;Klus and Wanat, 2015;Kaputa et al, 2016;Mikołajczak et al, 2017;O'Brien and Bringezu, 2018;Wanat et al, 2018a).…”

Intersectoral and Intermunicipal Cooperation as a Tool for Supporting Local Economic Development: Prospects for the Forest and Wood-Based Sector in Poland

“…Despite the imbalance in the Polish wood market and the deficit of the wood raw material (a permanent phenomenon being an effect of the application of the principles of sustainable forest management), there is no threat for the development of wood-based industries in Poland. The following factors have a decisive impact on the following: dynamic increase in the demand for wood, wood products and popularity of wood as an environmentally and human friendly raw material [19][20][21][22]. A study of intersectoral and intermunicipal relationships-as potential factors of development-seems justified with reference to the wood-based sector, especially owing to its territorial dispersion.…”