This paper describes the first part of my PhD research project where Africa's Demand for Iron andSteel Importation Long-Term Relationship with its explanatory variables is investigated. We employ a panel of 19 African countries for a period that spans from 1994 to 2012. We consider the long-term relationship that may exist between the iron and steel importations and the explanatory variables used (GDP per capita, investment in infrastructure, real effective exchange rate, and the number of urban population). The empirical analysis is divided in three parts in this study. In the first part, the panel unit root tests and stationary tests revealed that all variables have a unit root; in first differences, they are stationary, these variables are integrated of order 1 or I (1) and the level of the variables are I (1). In the second part, the different cointegration tests conducted between the dependent variable and the explanatory variables result in the confirmation of the fact that they are cointegrated. In the third part, an estimation of the long-run relationship is carried out with Panel Error Correction Modeling (ECM) using Pooled Mean Group Regression Methods. The importations of iron and steel are positively correlated with all the independent variables of the model. All estimated coefficients are positive and significant at 1% level of significance. The usual determinants of importations (demand factor and factor price competitiveness) are significant in the modeling of iron and steel importations and signs are consistent with expectations except the real effective exchange rate.

The purpose of this research is to increase our understanding of how the process of internationalization is intertwined with the set of external and internal factors that determine choice of foreign entry mode at Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation (WISCO). To satisfy the purpose of our study, the following research question was addressed: RQ: How can the influence of external and internal factors on WISCO's choice of foreign entry mode be described? In this paper, a selection of the literature and existing research on the choice of foreign entry modes are reviewed, and at the same time, we develop a conceptual framework based on the theories and references that were reviewed, and then going more in detail into the external and internal factors influencing the choice of foreign target market. A summary of conceptual framework was presented, which then will be used as a basis for the data collection. Data collected on the company WISCO that was analyzed against existing theories brought us to certain conclusions which we present at the end of this paper. The fact that a single case would not allow us to generalize is not overlooked. However, indepth analysis of the company WISCO has shed light on aspects of internationalization choice of entry modes which deserve consideration.