Akira Kiminami

Innovation, cooperation and business performance: Some evidence from Indonesian small food processing cluster

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: to understand the cooperation activities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in food processing industry clusters; to understand the role of cooperation in improving innovation; and to understand the relationship between cooperation, innovation, and business performance of SMEs in food processing industry clusters in rural areas of Indonesia.Design/methodology/approach – An empirical survey was conducted on SMEs in food processing industry clusters. Primary data collected in five SMEs clusters were analyzed by regression and correlation analyses using the path‐analytic approach. In this study, the following two hypotheses were examined: cooperation is positively related to innovation; and innovation of SMEs is positively related to business performance.Findings – Using the path analytical method, this paper provides evidence that cooperation is significantly related to innovation of SMEs in food processing industry clusters. Moreover, business performan...

Intra-Asia trade and foreign direct investment

Abstract. This article reconsiders the patterns of intra-Asia trade and the linkages with foreign direct investment (FDI) in this region. The following conclusions are drawn. Firstly, by 1985 intra-Asia trade exhibited both distinct patterns of inter-industry trade on the one hand, and intra-industry trade on the other. Secondly, the patterns of trade in this region have not changed since 1985 from vertical to horizontal, but from a “flying-geese” to an “acrobatic” type, due to the sharp increase in FDI within the region. Thirdly, since the early 1990s, FDI began to shift to China due to the wage differentials between China and other East Asian countries. This made the countries of East Asia compete with one another, rushing to obtain capital and financial resources from all over the world – ultimately contributing to recent financial and economic turbulence in the region. The article concludes with some brief policy recommendations on how to avoid a recurrence of the Asian crisis in the 21 century.

Economic growth and food policy in urban China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to clarify the influence that economic growth gives to the food consumption in urban China by taking income gap into consideration. It also proposes an appropriate food policy corresponding to the consumers’ diversified needs for food under the process of economic growth. Design/methodology/approach - Various kinds of methodologies are employed such as the interview analysis, food tasting investigation, group discussion, retail price investigation and the questionnaire survey, etc. for the case study from Shanghai. Findings - Food policy for China in the current stage should be considered to supply food with a constant quality to the poorest segment of the population at cheap price and to correspond to the diversified needs of the general public for food (including high quality and safety intention of top-tier population). Originality/value - Not only the existence of income gap but also the realities of the difference in the food consumption among the poorest segment, the general public and the rich layer of the population are clarified. The food policy which attempts to correspond to the diversified needs for food and to realize a sustainable development of the society is proposed.

Evaluating the Impact of Geographic Concentration on Nepalese Agricultural Export

This study observed and analyzed the behaviour of Nepalese agricultural export using vector error correction model (VECM). The first part of the analysis focused on the dynamic relationship among agricultural export, geographic concentration and total agricultural production. Results of the study revealed that Nepalese agricultural export was very much dependent on the Indian markets and had positive relation with the geographic concentration index in the long run. The significant and higher error correction term indicated that the short-run fluctuations in geographic concentration and agricultural production were promptly adjusted to its long-run trend. The long-run effect of agricultural production increment on export was positive. The second part of the analysis focused on the export of niche products. The analysis in vector auto regression (VAR) form indicated that the relationship between export of niche products and geographic concentration was insignificant. Granger causality test revealed that the production granger causes export and export granger causes geographic concentration.

External relationships and entrepreneurial orientation of tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of external relationships and entrepreneurial infrastructure on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of tea manufacturing firms. An empirical survey was conducted with tea manufacturing firms located in a low grown area in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire at 109 tea factories. The findings indicated the importance of external relationships; specifically, relationships with supply chain partners and relationships with government facilitating institutions enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms. However, relationships with other tea factories and educational and research institutions are not significant influences on firms’ EO in the context of the Sri Lankan tea industry. When considering the dimensions of EO, risk taking is influenced by external relationships and not innovativeness and proactiveness. Further, the entrepreneurial infrastructure provided by related institutions except other tea factorie...

Rural and Agriculture Development in Regional Science

This paper discussed the trends and the outlook of the study of rural and agriculture development in regional science. Firstly, the relationships between regional science, area study, and regional economic development are clarified. Secondly, the definition, purpose, and approach of rural and agriculture development are described. Thirdly, the analytical approaches toward rural and agriculture development issues are introduced with some comments on the roles of entrepreneurs and knowledge creation in innovation. Fourthly, the pioneering studies in rural and agriculture development in Japan based on regional science and their development to new theories are evaluated. Finally, the theoretical framework of a new approach of strategic development for regional agriculture is introduced by combing synthetically conventional urban planning, community development, strategic marketing planning, and industrial cluster strategy based on collaborative advantage. In addition, future prospects in rural and agriculture development studies are recommended such as the issues of regional heterogeneity, rural-urban partnerships, creating more effective models for rural and agriculture development, perceived agriculture and rural areas, etc. Furtherly, the cognitive changes toward agriculture and rural area from regarding them as an ailing industry and a conservative and closed society to a growth industry and an open “space” to create knowledge and innovation are thought to be urgent in Asia.

Agricultural Industry Clusters in China

The purpose of this study is to assess the potential of clustering in the development of agriculture and rural communities in China. First, case studies are used to clarify issues involving cluster initiatives and business environments. The second method consists of quantitatively analyzing the relationship between business collaborations among companies and economic performance. The results of the analyses of agricultural clusters in China in this study suggest that clusters do achieve certain positive results in the way of development in the agricultural sector and rural communities. However, it also suggests that a shift from intra-industry to inter-industry business collaboration will be necessary for the sustained development of those clusters.