The Role of the Internet in Overcoming Information Barriers: Implications for Exporting SMEs of the East African Community

Neema Mori, Kristiansand School of Business, University of Agder, Boks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway and University of Dar es Salaam Business School, Tanzania, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Gibson Munisi, Kristiansand School of Business, University of Agder, Boks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises play a significant role in the East African Community, contributing highly to the national income and employing a significant number of people. Exportation provides a great opportunity for these enterprises to expand their businesses and improve their performance. However, they encounter several information related barriers before and during exportation. Based on literature, this paper identifies these barriers and discusses how the internet could be used to reduce them. Based on the internet, international business and small business literature, the paper provides propositions and develops a model that will be useful for future studies in this area.

Keywords: SMEs; Information barriers; Internet; Exportation; East African Community.