Purpose　-　This　article　extends　knowledge　of　market　orientation　(MO)　and　strategic　collaboration　by　analyzing　MO-collaborations　in　the　context　of　firm　performance　of　small-　and　medium-sized　enterprises　(SMEs).　Design/methodology/approach　-　A　proposed　framework　built　on　the　Knowledge　and　resource-based　theory　was　tested　using　Structural　Equation　Modelling　with　data　collected　from　171　SMEs.　Findings　-　This　research　study　supported　the　direct　impact　of　market　orientation　on　performance　as　well　as　the　mediating　role　of　collaboration　in　this　focal　relationship　and　assumed　it　would　have　a　significant　role　in　SME＇s　performance.　Practical　implications　-　These　findings　have　noteworthy　implications　for　managers.　Managers　can　focus　on　potential　collaboration　in　order　to　acquire　the　needed　assets.　Owners-mangers　should　closely　evaluate　the　FTAs,　economic　corridors,　and　regional　cooperation　agreements　like　BRI　as　these　sources　can　lead　them　to　collaboration　with　international　partners.　Additionally,　it　provides　insight　for　entrepreneurs,　business　practitioners,　and　stakeholders　of　SMEs　that　are　already　operating　or　plan　to　increase　their　market　share.　Originality/value　-　The　study　findings　give　interesting　bits　of　knowledge　to　academia,　entrepreneurs,　and　small-　and　medium-sized　enterprises　(SMEs).　Given　that　market　orientation　and　collaboration　must　proceed　in　parallel　to　improve　firm　performance,　Assets　like　MO　provide　valuable　knowledge　and　information　about　partners,　which　will　lead　to　further　valuable　information　to　help　the　SME　succeed.　This　study　further　extend　the　KBV　theory　recommendation　that　information　and　knowledge　on　collaboration　works　better　and　integration　will　be　more　successful　in　＇resource　rich＇　firms.