Getting Ready For Economic Globalization: The Strategic Response of The Sudanese Import-Substitution Manufacturing Enterprises to Emerging Competition

This paper seeks to report research results of an empirical study which examines attitudes of managers and owners of the Sudanese import-substitution manufacturing enterprises towards economic globalization, its impact on import-substitution manufacturing enterprises and their response thereto. The study used both interviewing and questionnaire to collect data from participants. The study concluded that the majority of the participating companies had not worked out strategies to face tougher competition, which they are likely to face once Sudan becomes a full-fledged member of the WTO. The fewer ones that had contemplated some strategies had not been able to carry them out. This situation is basically because of infrastructural problems the manufacturing sector is facing in Sudan: electricity shortage, expensive foreign currency, poor sanitation & transportation facilities, high inflation rates & tax tariffs, & bureaucratic system. Mangers and businessmen, however, maintain that the government and the businessmen associations have a role to play to make them better prepared to face the consequences of economic globalization. In view of the lack of these strategies, one can expect more manufacturing enterprises to lose out to foreign competition.