Formulating a Model for Export Development of Iran’s High-Tech Industries

Although high-tech export has a small share of non-oil exports, however it's share has decreased from 1.6% in 1390 to 0.6% in 1396. These goods are among high value-added products which can significantly help the economic development of the country. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the causes of the mentioned issue  and the strategies for addressing that. Considering the research objective, this is an applied study conducted using a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) in two phases. The data were collected by means of survey. In the qualitative phase, the fundamental criteria affecting the export of high-tech goods were identified and classified using a theme analysis method. A total of 14 experts in the area of export development in high-tech industry were interviewed and the most important criteria were extracted. In order to identify and screen the sub-criteria affecting the export development of high-tech goods, Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) was used. In the second phase of the research, the questionnaires were distributed among knowledge-based companies and the obtained results were tested using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In the qualitative and quantitative phases, the data were analyzed using MAXQDA and SMARTPLS software, respectively. The results of the research indicate that “export promotion and development policies’’ and “trade facilitation” have the highest influence and “market access” has the lowest influence on the export development of high-tech products. Therefore, the supply-side factors are more important than the demand-side factors