exceptionally buoyant external conditions for ldc exports in the form of the global commodity boom strong external demand and ample external financing did result in higher gdp growth in the s that in turn led to some increased investment including and in some cases mainly by foreign firms the investment ratio of ldcs ie gross fixed capital formation as a share of gdp rose from per cent to per cent between and the highest level in over years first the increase in the ldcs investment ratio still falls short of the level typically required for developing countries to sustain high growth rates over long periods