Specificities of the internationalization strategies of firms from emerging countries: contributions of an institutional approach and networks[Spécificités des stratégies d’internationalisation des firmes issues de pays émergents : apports d’une approche institutionnelle et par les réseaux]

This research focuses on internationalization specificities of enterprises from emerging countries (ECMEs). Its aim was to show the importance of specific factors (family and diasporic ties, public support and political support) in the internationalization of Asian firms through a qualitative approach to the case study of the internationalization of Wilmar, based on secondary data. The results underline the importance of integrating the institutional dimensions of the profiles of the firm and its managers, of the countries of origin and target country, as specific, even more significant determinants of the internationalization of ECMEs. More specifically, the results showed the role of family and diasporic ties, political proximity and subsidies to local industry as important determinants of the acceleration of Wilmar's internationalization. The group currently constitutes a leading family conglomerate, specializing in the supply of agricultural products, with a regional base of international establishments. He also represents one of the "champions" of Chinese capitalism in South East Asia.