Export Readiness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Emerging Markets: A Capability-Based Conceptual Model from Kazakhstan

Abstract

In this paper, a capability-based conceptual model of SME export readiness in emerging market economies is constructed through the use of Kazakhstan as the main case study and Indonesia as the secondary one. This work applies the resource-based view of the firm, dynamic capabilities theory, the literature on SME internationalization, export readiness studies, and university-industry collaboration literature to explain how export readiness should be seen as more than financial resources, marketing strategies, or even managerial intention. Instead, this concept can be viewed as a multifunctional capability development process including human, digital, innovative, and networking capabilities. For the purposes of this study, a conceptual policy analysis approach was used by means of secondary data analysis and literature review. According to this model, university, export promotion agency, industrial, government, and digital capabilities are interrelated parts of an ecosystem of export readiness. The contribution of the paper lies in the conceptualizing of export readiness as a supported capability of SMEs and in providing policy suggestions about how to improve the role of universities in supporting exporting activities in emerging markets, such as Kazakhstan.