Internationalizing SME nontraditional exporters and their Internet use idiosyncrasies

Abstract

This study focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Ghanaian nontraditional exporters (NTEs) in the handicrafts, agricultural, and semiprocessed/processed NTE sectors. Specifically, the study focuses on the relationship between Internet utilization and (1) age of the NTE, (2) export performance, and (3) type of export organization in internationalizing NTEs. The age of an exporting firm had a significant effect on its Internet use. Export volumes and the type of company ownership had no significant influence on Internet use among exporting firms. Analysis of age of the firm and Internet use indicated that firms that have been in existence for a long time adopt the Internet slower. © Brill Academic Publishers 2005.