EAST – ASIAN LEAD FIRMS’ IMPACT ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY OF THE V4 COUNTRIES: SAMSUNG AND ITS COMPETITORS

Abstract

The paper investigates the rapid, FDI-driven expansion of the electronics
industry in the V4 countries from the second half of the nineties through their
inclusion into the global value chains of East-Asian lead firms with their home
base in countries, such as in Korea, Taiwan or Singapore and China. The paper
analyses opportunities for upgrading of East-Asian manufacturing subsidiaries
and their local suppliers in the V4 region towards higher value-added activities,
and the level of the subsidiaries’ embeddedness after 30 years of their
appearance as well as their impact on trade relations between East – Asia and
the V4.
KEYWORDS: East-Asian lead firms, V4 countries electronics industry, global
value chains, global production networks, Samsung Electronics