LDCs Myths and Reality: In many respects, the overall picture of LDCs often changes for the better when we look at the situation more closely.

• Author: Kirchbach, Friedrich Von

The market analysis undertaken by ITC for the Business Sector Round Table (BSRT) found that several generalizations about least developed countries (LDCs) are myths, presumptions based on an out-of-date reality.

Other assertions about these countries, we discovered, are true only as a statistical average, not for the regional or national case, and often not for individual businesses. In many respects, we found, the gloomy overall picture of LDCs changes for the better when looking at individual countries, sectors, industries, companies and regions, sometimes quite radically. It is often a question of perspective.

Speaking generally...

For example, the LDCs have a "marginal share... of world trade" (some 0.54% in 2000), as the Programme of Action for 2001-2010 adopted by the United Nations Conference in Brussels noted. And most of the LDCs saw their share of world trade decline significantly in 2000 unless they were oil producers.

Looking closer...

Nevertheless, international trade is important for LDCs, and much more than many people realize. LDC merchandise exports were worth US$ 36 billion in 2000. In all, merchandise trade (imports and exports) represents some 40% of gross domestic product (GDP). Import and export trade provide a significant proportion of the jobs available. So international trade matters for LDCs both in developmental and business terms.

Speaking generally...

LDC trade is in a long-term decline.

Looking closer...

LDC trade is now recovering from the slump that lasted into the first part of the 1990s. However, it has been fuelled largely by oil exports. African non-oil exporters have seen a continuous erosion in their share of world trade. And the deterioration of commodity export prices has been dramatic over the second half of the 1990s.

The overall disappointing trade performance of LDCs in value terms -- in volume terms they have increased exports -- should not overshadow the tremendous effort put in by the business community in such countries to push forward against the current. These firms have been achievers in adversity. Without their efforts, the situation would be far worse.

Speaking generally...

LDCs depend for their trade performance on exports of unprocessed commodities.

Looking closer...

Our research shows that manufactures rather than commodities now account for more than half of non-fuel exports by LDCs. In Africa, for example, the 1999 export value of manufactures was higher than earnings from food...