Introduction

Markets that previously have been unreachable for companies other than monopolies or other protected firms are frequently being opened up. This applies to entire industries that become reachable through deregulation initiatives or otherwise, and it is also valid for geographical regions, such as certain countries in East Europe and Asia. This allows for the greater participation of both domestic and foreign firms, and, as a result, it allows for more intense competition. Some of the firms in question have been established previously, while some have been established in order to exploit opportunities in the emerging markets.