The rise of African multinationals: are IB scholars paying sufficient attention?

This article discusses the rising prevalence of African multinationals in intra-regional, but also extra-regional, markets. It acknowledges the significant firm-specific and institutional challenges facing these MNEs, and welcomes their modest and improving international competitiveness. Continuing evolution, the authors argue, lies in concerted development of higher order capabilities by African MNEs as well as effective coalition building to redress institutional challenges. Given these firms’ potential to transform their lagging home region and impact IB theory, the article calls on the IB community to do better job of channelling research attention on African MNEs.