MNCs Go From Developed To Emerging Countries

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Traditionally when you say the phrase “Multi-National Corporation” most people tend to think of American, European, or Japanese companies, but the surging economies in Asia and across the emerging world have resulted in plenty of ambition, cash, and credit for local companies with global ambitions. Now, leading companies in India, S.E. Asia, China, and across Latin America are poised to launch world-wide expansions.

MNCs Go From Developed To Emerging Countries

One of the most recognizable MNC’s from an emerging market is India’s esteemed Tata Motors Limited (NYSE:TTM) (BOM:500570). The large multi-national group is already very active in foreign countries, including its 2008 purchase of the Jaguar motor brand based in the United Kingdom. The company is already selling Jaguars around the world and is considering selling its Tata brand cars in Europe and the United States. Tata Motors Limited (NYSE:TTM) (BOM:500570) has also opened a few hotels in the United States under its hospitality division.  The company has also announced plans to enter emerging markets in S.E. Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Famed Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, has been expanding his business ventures, operated under conglomerate Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. (PINK:GPOVY)  which primarily centers around telecommunications across Latin America and into the United States. Slim has also stated that his companies are evaluating expansions into Africa and across the emerging world. Slim recently bought a pair of Dutch and Austrian telecommunications firms and also an Argentinian oil company.

Some multi-nationals from emerging markets are focusing on other middle and low income countries. For example, Axiata Group, a government-linked company from Malaysia involved primary in telecommunications and technology, has been expanding rapidly through South and South East Asia. The multi-billion dollar firm is now one of Asia’s largest telecommunications companies and has interests in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and even Iran.

The growth of multi-national corporations hailing from middle income countries offers evidence of a growing world of multi-polarity. As emerging markets have boomed in recent years, local financial institutions and companies themselves have been able to build stockpiles of cash. With borrowing rates in many countries near all time lows and strong growth continuing even in-spite of the risk of a global recession, many emerging market MNCs see this as the perfect time to invest.

In fact as Western strongholds, such as the European Union and to a lesser extent Japan continue to struggle, emerging market MNCs may be the primary benefactors. They will be able to pick up struggling companies cheap and with patience and time may find big returns on their investments.

Many of these emerging market multi-nationals have been launching aggressive IPO’s over the last year. Unlike Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN), most of these IPOs have been highly successful. Malaysia set a personal record in 2012 for the number and value of IPOs, while several Chinese state-owned companies have begun to privatize their operations.

These important trends suggest that the global market place will grow even more crowded in the coming years. South Korea already proved in the 1990s that companies from recently emerged nations can compete on the global landscape. Now numerous companies from across the developing world are poised to take on established multinationals from well-developed countries.

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