Identification and Prioritization of Green Enterprise Development Areas in Golestan Province

This applied research, using exploratory mixed method design, was conducted to identify and prioritize green enterprise development opportunities in Golestan province. By purposeful sampling approach, using snowball technique, 19 key informants were selected to participate in the research. At first, based on the focus group methodology and review of the documents, the key areas and criteria for the development of the green enterprises were identified. Then, using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the prioritization of the identified opportunities was performed according to multiple criteria. The research tool was a semi-structured group interview in the first stage and a researcher-made questionnaire in the second stage. Based on the findings of this research, 28 fields have green enterprise opportunities in Golestan province. In order to realistic multilateral assessment of the opportunities, seven key criteria for recognition and investment in the development of green enterprises in the Golestan province were identified as (1) greenness (environmental compatibility), (2) technical and feasibility, (3) economic feasibility, (4) market feasibility, (5) social feasibility, (6) spatial compatibility (capacities and natural resources), and (7) employability. Based on these criteria, three priority areas for the development of green enterprises in the Golestan province include handicrafts, organic farming, and tourism, especially ecotourism.