This annual report provides a comprehensive and authoritative source of socio-economic analysis and data on the world´s most impoverished countries.

The Report is intended for a broad readership of governments, policy makers, researchers and all those involved with LDCs´ development policies.

The aim of this series is to disseminate the findings of research work on the inter-linkages between trade and poverty and to identify policy options at the national and international levels on the use of trade as a more effective tool for poverty eradication.

The opinions expressed in these papers are those of the authors and are not to be taken as the official views of UNCTAD or its member states.