Between 2001 and 2010 economic growth in the least developed countries (LDCs) accelerated strongly (6.9 percent annual GDP growth rate) as compared with the dismal performance of the two previous decades (when annual growth rates of 3.9 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, were recorded). The major factors pushing this performance have been external, namely export revenues enhanced by more liberalised markets and surging commodity prices (leading to improved terms of trade), higher debt forgiveness and increased inflows of aid, remittances and foreign direct investment (FDI)