This paper explores the role immigrants play in the export performance of companies particularly in their home countries. Analysing country-level data, we find that export effects vary with the size of the immigrant population, duration of stay and type of products traded. We also introduce the role of cultural proximity and communication to the picture. Analyses show that the effect of immigration on export performance is significant only if the home and host countries are culturally distinct, and that better cross-culture communication and integration of immigrants are necessary to realise the export performance impact of immigrants. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Cultural proximity Ethnic networks communication

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