Abstract

This paper provides some characteristics and empirical analysis of the key determinants of industrial alliances between north and south businesses. The empirical analysis has been conducted on a sample of 56 joint ventures and other cooperative arrangements, based in Tunisia and Egypt. The hypothesis is that industrial alliances represent some of the most efficient tools for technology transfers and competencies learning. In the double context of globalization and of regional north-south agreement (Euro-mediterranean agreement established in 1995), such agreements are susceptible to fulfill the objectives of the Northern enterprises and to provide Southern firms with opportunities for catching up, especially with respect to technology and organization.