A multinational corporation/company is an organisation doing business in more than one country. 'In other words it is an organisation or enterprise carrying on business in not only the country where it is registered but also in several other countries. It may also be termed as international corporation, global giant and transnational corporation.
MNC's may engage in various activities like exporting, importing, manufacturing in different countries. It may also lend its patents, licences and managerial services to firms in host countries.
Characteristics of Multinational Companies (MNCs)
The distinctive features of multinational companies are as follows.
1. Large Size:
A multinational company is generally big in size. Some of the multinational companies own and control assets worth billions of dollars. Their annual sales turnover is more than the gross national product of many small countries.
2. Worldwide operations:
A multinational corporation carries on business in more than one country. Multinational corporations such as Coco cola has branches in as many as seventy countries around the world.
3. International management:
The management of multinational companies are international in character. It operates on the basis of best possible alternative available any where in the world. Its local subsidiaries are managed generally by the nationals of the host country. For example the management of Hindustan Lever lies with Indians. The parent company Unilever is in The United States of America.
4. Mobility of resources:
The operation of multinational company involves the mobility of capital, technology, entrepreneurship and other factors of production across the territories.
5. Integrated activities:
A multinational company is usually a complete