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Chinese Telecommunications Companies in Ethiopia: The Influences of Host Government Intervention and Inter-firm Competition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2020

Ding Fei Open the ORCID record for Ding Fei [Opens in a new window]
Ding Fei*
Affiliation:
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University. Email: dfei4@asu.edu.
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Abstract

This article examines Chinese engagement in Ethiopia's telecommunications sector. It argues that while theories of developmental state and global production networks contribute important insights on the roles of state agency and inter-firm relations in the rise of global lead firms from East Asia, they are insufficient to interpret the recent overseas ventures of Chinese companies in Africa. A case study of one flagship Chinese telecommunications company in Ethiopia advances the existing literature by highlighting the influences of host government intervention and inter-firm competition in shaping firms’ local operations. Specifically, this article analyses a myriad of changes in the case company's organizational structure and business practices in response to increased market competition administered by the Ethiopian government. Findings reveal that despite benefiting from official inter-state cooperation, Chinese overseas companies are neither static nor merely state-driven players but are flexible in adjusting strategies to improve their competitiveness in the local market.

摘要

摘要

本文探讨中国企业在埃塞俄比亚电信领域的情况。尽管发展型国家和全球生产网络理论指出了政府主导和企业关系在来自东亚的全球领先企业的崛起过程中的积极作用，但它们不足以充分解释中国公司近期在非洲的海外投资活动。基于对一家在埃塞俄比亚的中国领先电信公司的案例研究，本文强调东道国政府和企业间竞争对全球性企业的本地运营的影响，并以此推动现有文献的发展。本文分析了案例公司在组织结构和业务实践上的一系列变化，以应对由埃塞俄比亚政府主导的中国公司之间的市场竞争。研究结果表明，尽管受益于两国的官方合作关系，中国的海外公司并非静态的，或者仅仅是由国家驱动的全球化参与者。相反，企业在调整策略以提高市场竞争力方面具有相当的灵活性和战略性。

Keywords

firm strategiesglobal production networksgovernment interventionmarket competitionChina–Africa cooperationtelecom公司战略全球生产网络国家干预市场竞争中非合作电信
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 245 , March 2021 , pp. 186 - 207
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the SOAS University of London.

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