As the next century approaches, significant trends now emerging in global economics and technology will have major implications for corporate international strategies. While Europe and North America are forming stronger regional trading blocs, Western firms are also pursuing increasingly attractive opportunities outside their regions, particularly in the fast-growing economies of the Asia Pacific region. Firms in the Asia Pacific region, meanwhile, are seeking to play larger roles in worldwide high-technology markets. To fully exploit the opportunities emerging worldwide, companies are increasingly considering strategic alliances with partners outside their regions.