Global Governance:The New Wave of Global Food Security

Globalisation has altered the way regional development operates in terms of capacity building and production. Recent discussion on the way that local joint action allows firms to integrate and compete in global markets has shifted away from regional development, to forming global value chain linkages. Previously, institutional joint action and self-help groups signficantly contributed towards the success of a cluster. Small and medium sized firms were known to operate better with joint research, production and marketing efforts. While they still continue to perform, it has also increased local rivalry and competition making cooperation difficult. The paper hence examines the role that self-help organisation play in contributing towards upgrading with in clusters today. The two clusters that are considered the leading producers and exporters of surgical instruments to the United States and Europe are the Stalkot cluster of Pakistan and Tuttlingen cluster in Germany. Both operate in different conditions and contexts but have faced challenges that required local joint action to become an enabler of upgrading. Though other pillars of cluster development still contribute, the need to establish the role of horizontal joint action becomes important for small and medium enterpnses to facilitate them to be internationally competitive.