A small Canadian firm that has developed some valuable new medical products using its unique biotechnology know-how is trying to decide how best to serve the European Union. Its choices are given below. The cost of investment in manufacturing facilities will be a major one for the Canadian firm, but it is not outside its reach. If these are the firm’s only options, which one would you advise it to choose? Why? Provide pros/cons for each option.
a. Manufacture the products at home and let foreign sales agents handle marketing.
b. Manufacture the products at home and set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Europe to handle marketing.
c. Enter into a strategic alliance with a large European pharmaceutical firm. The product would be manufactured in Europe by the 50/50 joint venture and marketed by the European firm.