The process of internationalisation of small and medium sized enterprises: the Italian case of the ‘Consortium to promote exports’ and the existing instruments for Welsh small companies

Introduction The modern global economy presents difficult challenges to small enterprises. The Euro-Zone has brought great changes in the competitive environment, and new ways of commerce 1 are pushing business dynamics faster. The larger organisations are growing on a global scale affecting, with their investments, the smaller companies. In fact, the high level of competition coming from the internationalisation and globalisation processes speeds up the investment flow towards the foreign markets. We are now going through an age made of heavy challenges, where those who are not well equipped to win are going to be left at the edge of the competition. These companies are likely to be driven out of the market by those who would have been able to find a way to succeed. On one hand open competition, and the increased ability of the consumers to be active players on the value chain, represents a great risk for the small companies. On the other hand however, the global contest delivers important opportunities 5 . The business dynamics change suddenly requiring companies to deep scan the market. It is the ability, the long-life innovation and learning, the attitude to risk and investment that are able to solve the dilemma between business occasion and growing risk. Small companies have a great possibility to be the next first player on the global scene, 4 Such as the e-commerce 5 The e-commerce, for instance, is the tip of the iceberg