When third-world countries are integrated into the global economy

Mærsk has an important role

It is the world’s biggest container shipping company, but A.P. Møller-Mærsk not only plays an important role when it comes to moving goods from one end of the world to the other.

A team of researchers from CBS has just finished an international analysis of the company in relation to integration of third-world countries into the global economy.

One of the conclusions is that Mærsk plays an important role in creating the connection between companies in emerging economies and large global businesses in industrial countries.

More than just transportation

In the book ”Container Shipping and Development – A case study of A.P. Moller - Maersk in South East Asia”, published by CBS Press, the authors focus on the container shipping activities in South East Asia, particularly Vietnam.

Theauthors think that Mærsk’s container shipping companies play an important role in creating a connection between new economies and large global businesses in the industrialized countries.

It is not just about moving goods from point-A to point-B and coordinating different forms of transportation, but also of making it possible to coordinate an ever more divided production process in a globalized world where products are created out of parts from several different countries.

This is necessary for the supply chain to work optimally. For years the company has been investing in the creation of infrastructure in several countries.

The authors

Majbritt Greve, Project Manager at ECCO Shoes as well as Assistant Professor Michael W. Hansen and Professor and Director Henrik Schaumburg-Müller from Centre for Business and Development Studies, are behind the investigation.