Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Clusters and Industrial Districts from a Global Perspective
(Organized in cooperation with Italian Institute for Foreign Trade [ICE])
A characteristic and significant aspect of the Italian economic model is its special, although not exclusive, concern with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A distinctive aspect of these SMEs is that they can develop using the model of industrial districts.
Geographically concentrated, horizontally and/or vertically linked, firms of different sizes operating in the same line of business form the local industrial district. They were recognized as tools for economic development and for upgrading of international competitiveness of national industry. Industrial districts can be diverse but, because of particular interfirm relationships, interest in understanding the part social capital plays in these relationships is strong. An industrial district can flourish under specific conditions, which will be analyzed in the seminar.
The seminar will also focus on if and how the model can be exported, generating opportunities for SME development in dynamic sectors in developing countries, and highlight how they can promote economic growth.
| PROGRAM/SPEAKERS |
| Time |
Speaker | Topic |
| 12:00 noon |
Robert Bestani
Director general, Private Sector Operations Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB) | Opening Remarks |
| 12:10 p.m. |
Michele Bagella
| Identity, performance, and
internationalization of industrial districts in integrated global markets
|
| 12:50 p.m. |
Gioacchino Garofoli
| Industrial districts: Structure in transformation-the Italian case
|
| 1:30 p.m. |
R. Corrado G.M. Letta
| How to succeed in creating joint ventures: Learning to communicate across East Asian and European cultures
|
For further information, contact Mr. Antonio Lucarelli, email: a.lucarelli@ice.it
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