From 'international' to 'global': The Scottish enterprise global companiesstrategy and new approaches to overseas expansion

While export development has been a long-standing government task, it has t raditionally been characterized by a focus on some, but not all, of the bar riers facing exporters, particularly those relating to a firm's environment . In response to more complex understanding of internationalization, new po licy approaches have emerged in recent years which concentrate on the firm' s internal organization. The Global Companies Strategy of Scottish Enterpri se is an example, providing intensive and integrated assistance to particul ar companies. The policy is also distinctive in distinguishing between diff erent types of internationalization, placing a special economic development value on 'globalization' of a few companies rather than 'internationalizat ion' of the corporate base as a whole.