Integration in The Mekong–Ganga Business Region: An Identification of Determinants Related to Small & Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Start-Ups by Indian Entrepreneurs in Bangkok

Announcing: Singh, Amarjeet Mastana and John Walsh, “Integration in The Mekong–Ganga Business Region: An Identification of Determinants Related to Small & Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Start-Ups by Indian Entrepreneurs in Bangkok,” Journal of Global Management Research, Vol.6, No.2 (December, 2010), pp.51-60, available at: http://gmrjournal.com/GMRJ-V6N2-DEC2010-51-60.pdf.

 

Abstract: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the real backbone of the Thai economy and, consequently, deserving of careful examination. One subset of SME entrepreneurs that has received little attention until now has been the ethnic Indian entrepreneurs resident in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. This study details qualitative research that explores the personal characteristics of entrepreneurs, such as age, education and business experience and the usefulness of environmental factors such as government support, market size; competition and the location of the enterprise as contextual factors influencing the Indian entrepreneurs’ decisions concerning where and whether to start-up a new venture. Access to the whole Mekong region and to Asia Pacific countries generates powerful incentives for Indian and ethnic Indian SMEs to penetrate the Thai market. In-depth interviews indicated that the age of the entrepreneurs, their education and operational factors in starting business abroad do not significantly influence entrepreneurs’ intentions to internationalize. However, environmental factors such as the usefulness of government support services do significantly affect entrepreneurs’ intentions to internationalize. Entrepreneurs also revealed that business experience, infrastructure and market size are other factors that support a decision to start an SME in Bangkok.

 

KEY-WORDS: SME, Indian Entrepreneur, Thailand, International Business, Investment

 

Integration of the Mekong–Ganga Region

Announcing: Singh, Amarjeet and John Walsh, “Integration of the Mekong–Ganga Region: An Identification of Determinants Related to Small & Medium Enterprise Start Ups by Indian Entrepreneurs in Bangkok,” paper presented at International Colloquium on Business and Management, Bangkok (January 26^th-28^th, 2010).

Abstract: 

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the real backbone of the Thai economy. However, the implementation of government policies aimed at promoting and creating small scale industries does not necessarily guarantee success. Operations have to be successful, too. Success in operating a small scale business is dependent on various factors which entrepreneurs have to consider before starting-up, such as managerial experience, education, sufficient capital, proper location, choice of business and business conditions. Since increasing numbers of business executives and entrepreneurs have been exposed to international business and entrepreneurs are usually the key actors in the recognition, exploration and exploitation of new opportunities and an improved understanding of the circumstances surrounding new venture foundation is necessary. Thailand has a similar culture to India in some respects but a higher level of development, available seaports, access to the entire Mekong region as well as other Asia Pacific countries and many other factors that generate better opportunities for penetration by Indian SMEs entrepreneurs in the Thai market. The research in this paper has the following objectives: (1) To identify key factors having significant effect on business start-ups in Bangkok by Indian SMEs entrepreneurs; (2) To identify the factors affecting entrepreneurs’ intention to internationalize.

The full paper should be available at the conference website.