‘We have no Government’: trust and indigenous institutions shaping exporting Nigerian SME networks

This paper aims to examine trust in contexts where the formal institutional environment is perceived to be weak and ineffective. SME networks have become a crucial ingredient in growing businesses as it reduces the risks of international entrepreneurship. Recognising the importance of new opportunities for SMEs, this study explores how entrepreneurs draw on normative and cultural cognitive elements to build network relationships. The research problem stems from the fact that informal SMEs have received very little attention in academic research. The study therefore has practical implications for enhancing small business performance and contributes to the ongoing theoretical understanding of trust and network relationships in an African context.