Sherritt Goes to Cuba (A): Political Risk in Uncharted Territory
(Case study analysis)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Investing in developing countries requires not only an in-depth assessment of the economic, political and cultural factors involved but also the reconsideration of the investor's long-term strategies. Based on Sherritt International entry into Cuba, this case study analysis evaluates how Sherritt approached the Cuban government and how well it negotiated the terms under which the joint venture was signed. As the new venture is associated with numerous risks related to the political and economic systems of the country as well as to the Cuban culture, these will be carefully considered and possible recommendations for their mitigation, where possible, will be outlined. However, as every new endeavour, Sherritt's entry is a source of various opportunities such as expanding the business and adopting new management practices. These possibilities will be contrasted to the aforementioned risks further on in the case study analysis.
Finally, the case study analysis will focus on recognising the kind of strategies multinational companies (MNCs) should adopt to operate effectively in emerging economies with authoritarian regimes.
In nowadays-globalised world, where competitiveness means more than just a word, internationalisation is a prerequisite for a competitive advantage. Thus companies of all sizes must acknowledge the importance of partnerships with foreign nations and more in particular with emerging economies as a source of potential growth. Creating an unified global market, however, goes hand in hand with numerous threats. Therefore, when contemplating to enter a fast-developing market firms should thoroughly assess the economic and political factors in the host country and implement a sustainable strategy for a long-term success.
The economic growth of a country is considered to be contributed not only to the combination of numerous interrelated economic, political and demographic factors, but also to...