A determination of the factors affecting export behaviors of Small and Medium-Sized enterprises: An application to the textile and clothing industries in İzmir

Export stimulus and export barriers are the key concepts that drive and shape firms' export behaviours. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the export barriers and export stimulus of SMEs operated in textile and clothing industries in Izmir. This study consists of three sections. The first section explains the concept of SME and emphasizes the importance of SMEs in Turkey and some other countries. The second section is about the concept and scope of export. In this section, the factors that direct and influence SMEs export behaviours are described in detail. The third and the last section includes a field study on the topic. In this section, survey data gathered from 90 textile and clothing firms operated in Izmir, are analyzed by using parametric and non-parametric tests. It is found that many findings are in parallel with the regarding literature. It is determined that the firms participated in the survey, are more effected by proactive export stimulus factors than reactive export stimulus factors. Accordingly, it is stated that the responding firms have Active Export Behaviours. Additionally, it is concluded that export barriers highly perceived by these firms, are informational and financial oriented barriers.