Author	United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Title	TNC-SME Linkages for Development: Issues, Experiences, Best Practices. Proceedings of the Special Round Table on TNCs, SMEs and Development, UNCTAD X, 15 February 2000, Bangkok
Imprint	Geneva, United Nations. 2000
Descript	x, 113 p. : charts

Summary: This report contains proceedings of the Special Round Table on TNCs, SMEs and Development held in February 2000 in Bangkok (in the context of UNCTAD X) which brought together participants from TNCs, SMEs and SME support agencies, from academic institutions, as well as from international organizations and specialized agencies. As was noted at the Round Table, the accelerating process of globalization and economic liberalization has generated new global markets for enterprises, both big and small. TNCs have responded to the changing economic environment by concentrating on their core competencies, complemented by strategies to outsource operations in which they do not have a competitive advantage. This shift in corporate strategies from one-dimensional contractual arrangements to more complex supplier networks has widened the opportunities for competitive local SMEs while at the same time raised the requirements for them to enter TNC networks. In fact, the vast majority of SMEs, particularly in developing countries, remains de-linked from TNCs, therefore missing potential opportunities for technological spillovers, access to markets, information and to finance. [English only]