Building bridges to sustainable industry in emerging economies: the role of CEO trust and organizational commitment to global partnerships in advancing SDG 9

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the impact of CEO trust and organizational commitment on global partnerships and sustainable industrial development (SDG 9) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies, specifically Ghana. It explores the mechanisms through which internal organizational dynamics facilitate external collaboration aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). A quantitative research approach was adopted, employing stratified random sampling to survey SME CEOs across various industrial sectors in Ghana. Data collection involved a self-administered questionnaire utilizing validated scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tested the hypothesized relationships among CEO trust, organizational commitment, global partnerships, and sustainable industrial development. The results confirm that CEO trust significantly predicts global partnerships and organizational commitment. Organizational commitment positively influences global partnerships, driving sustainable industrial development sustainability. Organizational commitment mediates the CEO trust-global partnerships relationship, while global partnerships mediate the CEO trust-sustainable industrial development link. This study enriches social capital theory, highlighting CEO trust and organizational commitment’s role in facilitating effective global partnerships. It advances sustainable development literature, providing empirical evidence on SMEs in emerging economies harnessing internal leadership and collaborative capacity to achieve SDG 9. The findings offer insights for SME leaders, policymakers, and development agencies promoting industrial growth via strategic international partnerships, contributing to sustainable development goals.