Comparative Study On The Influence Of Cluster Governance Models On Firm Internationalization

Halal food industry has drawn an increasing attention from consumers, and has gradually become an important and even indispensable part of any complete food-producing industry. This thesis adopts the perspective of "industrial cluster governance", and focuses on the Ningxia, Thailand (Pattani), Philippines (Zamboanga) and Malaysia (Penang, Melacca, KL) as its research object.First, the author reviews literature pertaining to industrial cluster governance research, and introduces the main research questions of this thesis, namely:To what kind of industrial cluster governance model belong Ningxia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand? What is the effect of the different models of industrial cluster governance on firm internationalization?We shall analyze the internationalization level, scope and limitations of Ningxia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand halal food industrial clusters, describing the main features of their cluster governance, identifiying the main obstacles to their firm internationalization. This thesis identifies four types of cluster governance model:government-based and vertical cluster governance model, joint bidirectional cluster governance model, self-management and decentralized cluster governance model, self-management and horizontal cluster governance model.This thesis shall compare Ningxia, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia halal food industry cluster governance. Using enterprise network approach, resources approach and knowledge management approach as its theoretical basis, this thesis considers that industrial cluster constitutes the most effective tool to compare various aspects of the impact of cluster on firm internationalization. The tools we shall use are the "Pentagon spiral" of the European Union Cluster Group Task Force (ECA) to compare cluster resources and halal certification system, the "business interaction" quantitative comparison tool of Green and Bossomaier to measure cluster networks and Klimko’s cluster knowledge management method to analyze knowledge management. Through multiple linear regressions, the author shall answer the three research questions.The results of this thesis showed that both in Wuzhong halal food industry and abroad, cluster governance has a significant impact on firm internationalization, and can contribute to promoting participation in international activities. A major conclusion of this thesis indicates that a primary task of the relevant cluster agencies in Ningxia is to improve the regional certification system, and concentrate its efforts on developing an authoritative, influential and trusted halal certification system. Through this adjustment of its cluster governance model, Ningxia Wuzhong halal food industrial cluster shall be able to play a more effective and more active role in the promotion of firm internationalization, and fully comply with the needs of Ningxia Inland Special Economic Pilot Zone, Arab economic and trade cooperation, as well as the "One Road One Belt" national strategy.