Land-Locked Developing Countries

Land-locked developing countries (LLDCs) are widely dispersed around the globe: 15 are located in Africa, five in Asia, seven in Central Asia, two in Latin America and two in Central and Eastern Europe. But, as a group, LLDCs have a common denominator: lacking direct access to major shipping routes, they are often among the most disadvantaged developing countries, and indeed, some are least developed countries (LDCs). ITC is helping LLDCs meet their export challenges through the following services.

Mainstreaming trade into national development
ITC works with landlocked countries toward the development of inclusive national export strategies, and then often supports the implementation of the strategies when resources allow. In Uganda, where ITC is engaged extensively, a recent study demonstrates how the impact of Aid for Trade can be measured from the perspective of the private sector. A 2009 survey indicated specific and significant barriers experienced by exporters within their own borders, as well as in neighbouring countries, which hamper intra-regional and inter-regional trade. 

These constraints can be addressed at a regional level through focused public-private dialogue in specific sectors, involving all key players. In Lao PDR, sector strategies developed with the support of ITC and involvement of the stakeholders in the country have been endorsed by the government and included in the overall national development plan.

Vertically integrated sector development
In two LLDCs of Central Asia ITC is focusing on strengthening the export capabilities pf  the textiles and clothing sectors, which it has identified as areas with a strong potential in both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The projects address export related skill gaps in product development, marketing and quality management and help enterprises find and make use of new business opportunities. To maximize impact, ITC is working with exporters, trade support institutions and policy makers, following the format of similar work in 2004-2008 in the fruit and vegetables sectors in these two countries, as well as in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The exports of participating enterprises have increased by 15%-30%, demonstrating the impact of ITC’s work.

In Asia, where most of the LLDCs are also LDCs, ITC’s focus is to enable these countries develop sector specific strategies for new products with significant export potential and address some of the priority needs identified by Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies. In conjunction with the UN Trade Cluster Programme,  ITC’s work in Lao PDR will focus on the development of inclusive and sustainable tourism. One of the programme’s goals is to find markets in the tourist industry for producers from other industries, such as silk and organic goods.