Technology transfer to Saudi Arabia petrochemical industry experience

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6978835

Al-Ghamdi, A A.K.

Saudi Arabia sought transferring petrochemical technology. The transfer aims to reduce the country's dependence on oil and to utilize national resources more efficiently. To investigate the factors affecting the transfer, conditions related to the technology in question and the receiving entity are analyzed. Multinational corporations play a major role in the transfer process. The research shows that joint venture transfers more technology than direct foreign investment. Various economic models of transferring technology are discussed. Using regression analysis, two models are tested. Four variables are involved: investment resources involved in the process, labor, material, and transfer arrangement. Material advantage is the most significant factor in the Saudi case followed by transfer arrangement. Labor shortage slows the transfer. Four major policies are concluded from the study. (1) Additional effort is needed to recruit national workers; the number of expatriate is still large. (2) Carefully planned and implemented R and D program is essential for the transfer to be successful. (3) Starting some final products is due currently. It maximizes value added and it has better marketing conditions. (4) The stage of establishing industrial projects independent of foreign partner is set. The Saudis should have acquired sufficient technical experience to do so.

• Research Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6978835
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
294000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
ASIA
CHEMICAL PLANTS
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMICS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
JOINT VENTURES
LABOR
MARKET
MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
SAUDI ARABIA
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER