Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
This study set out to explore the factors that facilitate the export readiness of emerging exporters who benefit from the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme at the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). I hypothesised that management commitment, management skills, financial resources; technical knowledge, capacity to manufacture and international marketing intelligence have a positive relationship with export readiness. I used a questionnaire based on the work of Van Elden (2003) to collect data from emerging exporters. I tested the reliability of each scale showing Cronbach alpha values ranging from 072 to 0.86. A regression analysis confirmed that all six factors were significantly correlated to export readiness. I recommend that the dti view more carefully whether the beneficiaries of EMIA have the capacity indicated by the six factors before spending resources on such beneficiaries. EMIA staff should recommend interventions based on these six factors to those applicants who are unsuccessful.