Overview of Research on Factors Affecting the Linkage of Small and Medium Enterprises with Enterprises with Direct Investment Capital


(2008) examined the impact of FDI inflows into Vietnam from 23 other countries during the period 1990-2004 to assess the impact of FDI on Vietnam's exports. The estimated results showed that FDI is an important factor in promoting Vietnam's export growth rate. Specifically, the authors pointed out that a 1% increase in FDI inflows will increase Vietnam's exports by 0.13%. Similarly, Anwar and Nguyen (2011a) studied the impact of FDI on Vietnam's import and export activities, based on the gravity model and using panel data on Vietnam's trade with 19 of its most important partners. This study showed that FDI inflows had a positive impact on both Vietnam's export and import values ​​during the period 1990-2007. At the same time, the authors also found evidence of a positive correlation between FDI inflows and Vietnam's net export value in the post-1997 Asian financial crisis period.

At the provincial/municipal level , Zhang and Song (2001) used data from 3 cities and 24 provinces in China during the period 1986-1997 to examine the impact of FDI inflows on export value. The GLS regression results showed that FDI encouraged export activities and contributed to increasing the export value of Chinese provinces.

For activities participating in global supply chains at the enterprise level, the presence of FDI enterprises is often expected to have an impact on the import and export decisions of domestic enterprises through both competitive effects and knowledge spillover effects. FDI enterprises are subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) with experience and knowledge of operations in foreign markets as well as marketing, distribution and customer service networks that can help domestic enterprises through the transfer of market information and technology (Greenaway et al., 2004). As a result, enterprises in the host country have better opportunities to participate in global supply chains. In addition, linking with FDI enterprises helps domestic enterprises to promote production specialization activities, thereby achieving international product standards and enhancing product export opportunities (Sheng et al., 2011).

According to Aitken et al. (1997), FDI enterprises can help domestic enterprises grasp information about foreign tastes and markets, and at the same time promote infrastructure improvements, thereby creating conditions for domestic enterprises to easily participate in export markets. Using data on Mexican manufacturing enterprises in the period 1986-1990 with a Probit regression model, Aitken et al. (1997) examined

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The impact of the FDI sector on the performance of domestic enterprises. The regression results show that the closer domestic enterprises operate to FDI enterprises, the higher their export potential. The authors also propose the construction of export processing zones to facilitate import and export taxes as well as support infrastructure for enterprises, thereby helping enterprises reduce the costs of entering the export market.

Overview of Research on Factors Affecting the Linkage of Small and Medium Enterprises with Enterprises with Direct Investment Capital

Kokko et al. (2001) also examined the spillover effect of the FDI sector on manufacturing exports in Uruguay. Using data from 1,243 enterprises in 1988, the authors built a probit regression model with variables reflecting the characteristics of enterprises, industry characteristics as well as a variable representing the level of linkage/presence of FDI enterprises at the industry level. The research results show that the level of linkage of FDI enterprises established after 1973 (when Uruguay began to promote outward-looking activities) has a positive impact on the export capacity of enterprises, while there is no evidence of the influence of FDI enterprises established before 1972.

Greenaway et al. (2004) examined the impact of FDI on the export of domestic enterprises in the United Kingdom using data from 1992 to 1996. The Heckman two-step regression model showed similar conclusions as Aitken et al. (1997) when linkages with FDI enterprises were shown to help domestic enterprises grasp information about foreign markets, thereby promoting the export activities of enterprises.

Similarly, the study by Kneller and Pisu (2007) used data on manufacturing enterprises in the UK during the period 1992-1999 to examine the impact of linkages with FDI enterprises on the exports of enterprises. The authors found that, not only affecting the exports of enterprises in the same industry, FDI enterprises can also affect the exports of enterprises in other industries through vertical linkages. The quantitative model of the authors is based on the Heckman 2-step regression technique as studied by Greenway et al. (2004). The authors pointed out that the presence of FDI enterprises in the same industry and region contributes to promoting the export decisions of enterprises. At the same time, export-oriented FDI enterprises also bring about greater spillover effects. Not only that, the research results also show that FDI enterprises in downstream industries have a positive impact on the export output ratio of domestic enterprises. This is explained as, when FDI enterprises in the downstream use inputs from


Domestic enterprises can bring opportunities for domestic enterprises to improve their competitiveness and product quality, thereby promoting export activities.

Ruane and Sutherland (2005) in their study of the spillover effects of FDI on Irish enterprises’ exports found that the presence of FDI enterprises in the manufacturing industry increases the ability and export rate of Irish enterprises. At the same time, the authors also argued that this positive effect mainly comes from American enterprises as these enterprises put greater competitive pressure, and indirectly promote the export trend of Irish enterprises.

The work of Sheng et al. (2011) also shows the impact of the FDI sector on the export of Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Using enterprise data in the period 2000-2003, the authors' regression results show that the backward linkages of FDI enterprises with domestic suppliers have a positive impact on the export value of domestic enterprises. At the same time, the presence of FDI enterprises can bring about a demonstration effect for enterprises in the same industry, thereby helping to promote the export activities of these enterprises. Not only that, the authors also point out that non-exporting FDI enterprises tend to have a higher tendency to create a positive impact on the export value of domestic enterprises through backward linkages, especially with non-state enterprises, compared to exporting FDI enterprises. Meanwhile, exporting FDI enterprises have a positive impact on the export capacity of enterprises in the same industry.

Bajgar and Javorcik (2013) have made important contributions to the analysis of the impact of FDI enterprises' linkages on the quality, quantity of products as well as the number of export markets in the context of a developing country like Romania. The results show that the presence of FDI enterprises in downstream industries (reflecting backward linkages) not only contributes to promoting the export decisions of enterprises but also increases the number of products and the number of export markets of domestic enterprises. However, FDI enterprises in the same industry (reflecting horizontal linkages) have a negative impact on these indicators.

Based on this idea of ​​Bajgar and Javorcik (2013), Dalgıç et al. (2015) used data of manufacturing enterprises in Türkiye to analyze the impact of supply chain links between FDI enterprises and domestic enterprises on export activities. The research results showed the same conclusion as Bajgar and Javorcik (2013), the presence of FDI enterprises in downstream industries contributes to enhancing the export capacity of enterprises, while FDI enterprises in the same industry have a negative impact on


This possibility. At the same time, supply linkages between domestic suppliers and FDI enterprises also promote export orientation to high-income markets. FDI enterprises in the downstream sector also have a positive impact on the export ratio, total export value, number of items and number of export markets of domestic enterprises. However, the authors have not found evidence of the impact of backward linkages on the quality of exported goods.

While the above studies mainly consider the impact of backward linkages, the work of Takii and Narjoko (2012) aims to consider the impact of both forward linkages on the performance of Indonesian manufacturing enterprises in the period 2000-2008. Through this study, the authors argue that high-quality and cheaper inputs provided by FDI enterprises can cause domestic enterprises to reduce input imports.

Several studies in Vietnam have also examined the impact of FDI on global supply chain participation activities. At the micro level, Anwar and Nguyen (2011b) used data from the General Statistics Office to examine the impact of FDI on firms’ exports. Using a two-step Heckman regression model, the authors found statistically significant evidence of the positive impact of the presence of FDI firms on the decision to export as well as the export rate of domestic firms through horizontal and forward linkages (calculated at the industry level).

Concerned about the impact of linkages with FDI enterprises on the ability to participate in the chain of Vietnamese manufacturing SMEs in the period 2004-2008, Thangavelu (2014) used OLS and GMM regression models and showed that backward linkages with FDI enterprises help enterprises improve productivity, and from there the author concluded that linkages with FDI enterprises can help promote the ability to participate in the global supply chain of Vietnamese SMEs.

Statistics from the World Bank (2017) also showed a positive correlation between linkages with FDI enterprises and the input import rate of SMEs not only in Vietnam but also in other Asian countries such as China, Malaysia and Thailand. This can be explained by the fact that some inputs may not be produced domestically, or do not meet quality requirements, so SMEs when acting as suppliers for FDI enterprises tend to import higher levels of inputs to meet the strict standards of their partners. In other words, linkages with FDI enterprises not only affect the downstream participation of enterprises in the global supply chain (through exporting inputs) but also affect the downstream participation of enterprises in the global supply chain (through exporting inputs).


output) but also affects the upstream participation of enterprises in the chain (input import).

The results of quantitative research by OECD-UNIDO (2019) using data on enterprises in Vietnam and some other countries in the ASEAN region such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand in the period 2004-2016 showed that the linkage between enterprises in general, and the linkage between FDI enterprises and domestic enterprises, has a positive impact on the productivity and export rate of enterprises. This conclusion also helps to affirm that supply chain linkage is an important channel to help promote the participation of domestic enterprises in the supply chain.

Thus, an overview of studies in the world and in Vietnam shows that the linkages between FDI enterprises and domestic enterprises, especially SMEs, can help promote the activities of enterprises participating in the global supply chain. However, because most studies consider the spillover effect of the FDI sector, in which the level of linkage/presence of the FDI sector is considered at the industry level (for example, Anwar and Nguyen, 2011b). According to this approach, FDI enterprises can impact domestic enterprises without necessarily having a linkage relationship (Tong et al., 2019), so the direct impacts of enterprises participating in linkages with FDI enterprises have not been pointed out . At the same time, quantitative studies on spillover effects, although helping to confirm the positive influence at the industry level from FDI enterprises to domestic enterprises, have not focused on the target group of SMEs.

In addition, some studies have only examined the correlation statistics of linkages with import activities (for example, WB, 2017), or have only provided empirical evidence on the impact of linkage types on the export activities of enterprises (for example, OECD-UNIDO, 2019), but there is no empirical evidence on the impact of linkages with FDI enterprises on the import activities of Vietnamese SMEs.

Therefore, NCS finds that there is a need for specific research on enterprise-level linkages to global supply chain activities on both the input import and output export sides.

2.3 Overview of research on factors affecting the linkage of small and medium enterprises with foreign direct investment enterprises

According to the analytical framework of Winkler (2013) and Farole and Winkler (2014), the potential of enterprises of the investment-receiving country to form links with FDI enterprises depends on


characteristics of FDI enterprises, absorptive capacity of domestic enterprises as well as factors reflecting the business environment and institutional quality of the investment-receiving country.

In this thesis, with the aim of analyzing the ability of Vietnamese SMEs to link with FDI enterprises in order to propose solutions to strengthen linkages and promote the participation of SMEs in global supply chains, the researcher aims to understand the impact of characteristics, absorptive capacity of SMEs as well as the domestic institutional environment on enterprise linkages. These groups of factors have been analyzed in studies, specifically as follows:

2.3.1 On the absorption capacity of domestic small and medium enterprises

The absorptive capacity of enterprises is understood as the ability of enterprises to take advantage of information and knowledge that enterprises can access through interactions with other enterprises (Cohen & Levinthal, 1990; Todorova & Durisin, 2007). Absorptive capacity determines the ability of SMEs to learn and meet the standards of FDI enterprises within a certain period of time. At the same time, the limited capacity of SMEs also makes FDI enterprises unwilling to associate with SMEs (OECD, 2005).

Using the case study approach, UNCTAD (2005) pointed out that in order to participate and benefit from linkages, domestic SMEs need to demonstrate their absorptive capacity in the following aspects: First, SMEs need to have a desire to succeed and a spirit of learning. Second, SMEs need to meet performance standards and continuously improve these standards. Third, SMEs need to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to take advantage of their competitive advantages. Fourth, SMEs need to identify suitable FDI partners to link with. Fifth, SMEs need to be careful in negotiating contracts so that these linkages benefit the enterprise in the long term. Sixth, SMEs also need to have the ability and willingness to innovate themselves to satisfy the needs of partners. Seventh, SMEs also need to affirm their value to partners, such as understanding the political system, laws, and domestic market as well as other benefits, so that FDI partners can perceive the benefits of associating with FDI enterprises, thereby enhancing the ability to form these links.

Using quantitative analysis, Farole and Winkler (2014) showed that Vietnamese enterprises are more likely to participate in linkages with FDI enterprises than


with enterprises in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa thanks to better absorption capacity, thereby affirming that the absorption capacity of domestic enterprises is an important factor determining the ability to participate in linkages with FDI enterprises.

The absorptive capacity of enterprises in the host country is a function of the characteristics of the enterprise and the technological gap with FDI enterprises (OECD-UNIDO, 2019). Accordingly, one of the factors determining the absorptive capacity of domestic enterprises is the size of the enterprise (Knell & Rojec, 2007). Large-scale enterprises are also able to pay higher wages, so they can easily hire workers who have worked for FDI enterprises, thereby easily competing and imitating FDI enterprises (Crespo & Fontoura 2007). Quantitative research by Tusha et al. (2017) on linkages between FDI enterprises and domestic enterprises in Vietnam also confirms this when it shows that the larger the enterprise, the higher the absorptive capacity, thereby having a positive impact on the ability of domestic enterprises to participate in linkages.

The form of ownership of enterprises is also confirmed to affect the absorptive capacity and linkage ability of enterprises in many studies. State-owned enterprises are considered to receive many incentives from the Government in accessing resources, but therefore may be less effective when linking with FDI enterprises (Nguyen Nam Anh, 2019).

Not only that, the quality and qualifications of workers also have a direct impact on the absorptive capacity of enterprises (Meyer & Sinani, 2005; Blalock & Gertler, 2009). According to Blalock and Gertler (2009), the proportion of workers with college and university degrees increases the absorptive capacity of manufacturing enterprises in Indonesia, thereby increasing the ability to link and benefits for enterprises with FDI enterprises. Analysis by WB (2017) also shows that the labor qualifications of affiliated SMEs are also higher than those of the unaffiliated group. At the same time, affiliated SMEs also face less difficulty in recruiting workers with skills in engineering, information technology, foreign languages, management, etc. compared to unaffiliated enterprises. Quantitative analysis in this WB report also shows that the labor training courses that enterprises conduct have a positive impact on the ability of SMEs to become suppliers of FDI enterprises.

Research has also shown that in order to promote the formation and development of FDI linkages, there needs to be dynamic development of SMEs, in which technology level and innovation capacity play a decisive role.


Enterprises with product research and development capacity are considered by the WB (2017) to have innovation capacity to meet the requirements of foreign customers and FDI enterprises in terms of product diversity, quality and price. The quantitative research results of the WB have shown that innovation in production and business processes has a positive impact on the ability of domestic SMEs to become suppliers for FDI enterprises. Enterprises with high technology level are also confirmed to have a higher ability to participate in knowledge-intensive linkages with FDI enterprises (Saliola & Zanfei, 2009). A case study of automobile enterprises in South Africa also shows that the technological level of domestic suppliers is one of the important factors determining the backward linkages of FDI enterprises with domestic enterprises.

Many business surveys have shown that finance is the most important factor determining the survival and growth of small and medium enterprises in both developed and developing countries (Ruffing, 2006). It is a fact that, although SMEs play an important role in the economy, they often face many obstacles in accessing formal sources of credit and capital. Commercial banks and investors are often reluctant to provide capital and invest in SMEs for various reasons. First, from the perspective of credit institutions and investors, SMEs are high risk due to limited assets, low capital mobilization capacity, and vulnerability to market fluctuations as well as high failure rates. Second, SMEs often lack accounting records, financial statements or business plans, which makes it difficult for credit institutions and investors to assess the creditworthiness of SME proposals. Third, the administrative and transaction costs of borrowing are relatively high while the loans are relatively small, making the profitability of these loans for credit institutions insignificant (UNCTAD, 2002).

In practice, before signing contracts with domestic enterprises, FDI enterprises often require partners to make investments, improve processes and products (Javorcik & Spatareanu, 2009). Therefore, it is the difficulties in accessing finance that prevent SMEs from carrying out these activities, thereby reducing the opportunities for SMEs to link up with other enterprises, especially FDI enterprises (Canare et al., 2017). Quantitative research by Javorcik and Spatareanu (2009) also confirmed that the better the liquidity of an enterprise, the easier it is for the enterprise to become a supplier for FDI enterprises. However, according to statistics from the WB (2017), although Vietnamese SMEs surveyed

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