Upgrading Mongolia’s camel wool industry: Opportunities and challenges

The rising popularity of camel wool among apparel manufacturers has prompted Mongolia to firmly embed wool-processing facilities. Based on a literature review, an avenue for upgrading the camel wool industry and challenges involved are examined in this paper. Despite clear market opportunities, the challenging institutional dynamics and the country’s physical landscape have complicated the trajectory to upgrade the camel wool industry. Studies on global value chains commonly prescribe policies targeting firms and stakeholders; however, insights gained from this review suggest that equal, if not more, attention should be devoted to improving the broader institutional milieu that firms are embedded in.