BREAKING BARRIERS TO EXPORT: HOW CULTURE INFLUENCE MALAY MSME READINESS FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEMP.935021Keywords:
Culture, Export Barriers, Internationalization Readiness, Malay Entrepreneurs, MSEMEsAbstract
This conceptual paper explores the role of Malay cultural values on internationalization readiness among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs in Malaysia. In spite of decades of government support and various export promotion programs, there is a paradoxically low prevalence of Malay MSMEs in the international market relative to the similar Chinese Malaysian MSMEs. A continued gap in export figures indicates that mainstream internationalization theories, primarily based in Western secular cultures, may be inadequate to the Malay entrepreneurs. In line with the Resource Based View and Uppsala model, this paper proposes an integrated framework of the Malay cultural values (collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, kinship trust, and Islamic-derived values viz. halal orientation and work ethics) to three internationalization readiness dimensions: resource readiness, psychological readiness, and network readiness. Six testable propositions are developed. The paper posits that cultural factors act as not only a barrier but a potential strategic asset, especially to the markets with cultural affinities to Malaysia. Practical implications follow from this argument including recommendations for the culturally congruent mentorship programs, export promotion strategies, and policy interventions by agencies for Malaysian export promotion.
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