Territories and global markets: Citrus agro-export firms in Northeastern Argentina

Abstract

The paper addresses the issue of packing/exporter sweet citrus firms located in the Rí­o Uruguay corridor - departments of Federación and Concordia in Entre Rí­os and department of Monte Caseros in Corrientes -. We wonder if the geographical convergence of firms in a regional/local space generates coordination mechanisms that encourage synergies and their participation in exports, considering them in relation to the transnational capital operating in the same region. In our analysis we explore some of the strategies adopted by the firms for market penetration, focusing on inter-company coordination mechanisms at the horizontal level and on a local-regional scale, with a particular attention to their sustainability. We employ a methodological approach that emphasizes qualitative analysis techniques applied to semi-structured and in depth interviews to different agents of the chain, selected on the basis of the role they play within it. The relevant information is supplemented by secondary data and a review of literature relevant to the study area.