Trading firms and the internationalization of the mould cluster of Marinha Grande

The role played by trading firms in the internationalization process of mold makers located within the Marinha Grande cluster (Portugal) is a controversial issue. Besides finding foreign customers some traders provide a full service to customers, from product development to the injection and assembly of plastic parts. These traders add value to mold making and build long-term relations with customers, contributing to clusters’ internationalization. Other traders are accused of opportunistic behavior both as regards their relations with local producers and relations with foreign customers, harming the cluster’s international reputation. This paper aims to contribute to this on-going debate by presenting a study of three mold traders and the relations they have established with foreign customers and with local mold makers