Exporting from a Remote, Open Economy During COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs

14 Pages Posted: 18 Feb 2021 Last revised: 23 Sep 2021

See all articles by Antje Fiedler

Antje Fiedler

University of Auckland Business School

Benjamin Fath

University of Auckland Business School

Noemi Sinkovics

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School

Rudolf R Sinkovics

University of Glasgow

Date Written: 2021

Abstract

This chapter investigates the emerging advice given to New Zealand (NZ) exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to opportunities and challenges in international markets. Using data from virtual meetings and webinars of NZ export support organizations, the study sheds light on the mixed blessing of physical distance from major export markets. While distance shielded NZ early on in the pandemic, connecting to export markets became increasingly challenging and even experience exporters had to gain new market knowledge and build new networks by relying on digital technologies and channels.

Keywords: Exporting during crisis, business recovery, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), barriers to internationalization, distance

Suggested Citation

Fiedler, Antje and Fath, Benjamin and Sinkovics, Noemi and Sinkovics, Rudolf R, Exporting from a Remote, Open Economy During COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs (2021). In Kenneth Husted & Rudolf R. Sinkovics (Eds.), Management perspectives on the covid-19 crisis: Lessons from New Zealand (pp. 71-82). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800882096.00014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3787988 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3787988

Antje Fiedler

University of Auckland Business School

12 Grafton Rd
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand

Benjamin Fath

University of Auckland Business School ( email )

12 Grafton Rd
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand
+6499238313 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/people/profile/b-fath

Noemi Sinkovics

University of Glasgow - Adam Smith Business School ( email )

Glasgow, Scotland
United Kingdom

Rudolf R Sinkovics (Contact Author)

University of Glasgow ( email )

Adam Smith Business School
Glasgow, Scotland G12 8QQ
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/rudolfsinkovics/

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