What makes this increment even more commendable is that it occurred against the backdrop of sluggish growth in world markets, even though LDC exports were buoyed by emerging economies’ continued rapid growth. Much will depend on the state of the world economy and on the ability of emerging partners to maintain their growth momentum.7 On the downside, however, except for a few countries that have made serious efforts to diversify their export base, most LDCs’ exports continue to remain highly concentrated. Aggravating this tendency is the shifting pattern of trade in favour of emerging countries, which is accentuating dependence on raw materials and minerals in many - in particular, African - LDCs.