International Business

SOE09102

Coursework Assessment – Introduction

In 2001 the world began talking about the Bric countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – as potential powerhouses of the world economy. The term was coined by economist Jim O’Neill, who has now identified the “Mint” countries – Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey – as emerging economic giants. They are bound by a few key themes: young populations, useful geographical placement, and (Turkey excepted) by being commodity producers. The MINT countries are widely considered as the next emerging economic giants, offering a range of potential for exports in terms of goods and services across the world, including the United Kingdom.

Coursework Question

A major British international supermarket chain has appointed you as a consultant. The company is considering investing in the MINT countries. Global expansion is an important element of the company’s long-term strategic goals. Therefore, the management has requested you to compile a report regarding the attractiveness of  ONE  (your choice)  of the MINT countries based on potential return of investment. Evaluate the opportunities and risks presented by the chosen country. Based on your analysis, which what would you recommend i.e. to invest or look for other options? Give reasons for your recommendation.

Coursework Guidelines

Length:   Minimum 2500 words; Maximum around 3500 words

References:      A minimum of 10 appropriate references

Completion date:         3:30 PM, Wednesday 5 November 2014

Allocation of Marks:

– Analysis of political, economic, cultural and ethical risk of the chosen country (35%)

– Identification and evaluation of business opportunities of the chosen country (35%)

– Use of appropriate examples of companies which have invested in that country to support your arguments (10%)

– Justify your recommendation.  Discuss your findings based on the foregoing analysis. Which market entry strategy would you   propose? Discussion of findings and recommendations should be consistent with the foregoing analysis (20%)