Refer to Simple Touch Footwear. At present, Simple Touch Footwear can be described as being at the ____ stage of the internationalization process.

A) exporting
B) cross-border merger
C) joint venture
D) direct foreign investment
E) licensing

Internationalization Process

The strategic process that a company undergoes to expand its operations and presence into foreign markets.

Direct Foreign Investment

An investment made by a company or individual in one country in business interests in another country, in the form of either establishing business operations or acquiring business assets.