International Web Site Design & Development - Designing International

The Biggest Companies in the World and their Web Site Strategy

A multinational corporation (MNC) or enterprise (MNE),[1] is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has defined[citation needed] an MNC as a corporation that has its management headquarters in one country, known as the home country, and operates in several other countries, known as host countries.

The Dutch East India Company was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock.[2] It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, negotiate treaties, coin money, and establish colonies.[3]

The first modern multinational corporation is generally thought to be the East India Company.[4] Many corporations have offices, branches or manufacturing plants in different countries from where their original and main headquarters is located.

Some multinational corporations are very big, with budgets that exceed some nations' GDPs. Multinational corporations can have a powerful influence in local economies, and even the world economy, and play an important role in international relations and globalization.