ABSTRACT

Dongguan, a young export-oriented manufacturing city in the Pearl River Delta, has developed rapidly following the introduction of China's policy of 'openness' in the late 1970s. Like many other developing cities, Dongguan's rapid industrialization has been based on exploiting low costs of land and labour. This chapter focuses on the evolution of the agglomeration of personal computer (PC) manufacturing activities in Dongguan, with particular emphasis on the role of the global-local ties that have shaped the nature of manufacturing networks in the city and its neighbouring areas. A significant issue underlying the formation of these networks is the creation and transfer of various kinds of skills and expertise. This issue is addressed in the latter part of the chapter. In general, the chapter seeks to contribute towards understanding the geography of fast growing industrial districts in developing countries (see chapter 7 by Hwang).