A/RES/55/183 Expressing deep concern about the negative effects of unfavourable weather conditions on the supply side of most commodity-dependent countries and any continuing effects of the 1997-1998 financial crisis on the demand for commodities, as well as the continuing depressed levels of most commodity prices, which adversely affect the economic growth of commodity-dependent countries, especially in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as commodity-dependent small island developing States, Concerned about the difficulties experienced by the developing countries in financing and implementing viable diversification programmes and in attaining access to markets for their commodities, Emphasizing the necessity for a domestic industrial transformation of commodity production in the developing countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries, with a view to enhancing productivity and stabilizing and increasing their export earnings, thus promoting the sustainable economic growth of developing countries and their integration into the global economy, 1. Emphasizes the need for the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 2. Expresses the urgent need for supportive international policies and measures to improve the functioning of commodity markets through efficient and transparent price formation mechanisms, including commodity exchanges, and through the use of commodity price risk management instruments; 3. Expresses concern at the declining terms of trade in most primary commodities, in particular for net exporters of such commodities, as well as the lack of progress in many developing countries in achieving diversification, and, in this regard, strongly emphasizes the need for actions at both the national and international levels, inter alia, to improve market access conditions, address supplyside constraints and provide support for capacity-building, including in areas that actively involve women; 4. Urges the developed countries to continue to support the commodity diversification and liberalization efforts of commodity-dependent developing countries, especially in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as commodity-dependent small island developing States, in a spirit of common purpose and efficiency, inter alia, by providing technical and financial assistance for the preparatory phase of their commodity diversification programmes; 5. Urges producers and consumers of individual commodities to intensify their efforts to reinforce mutual cooperation and assistance; 6. Reiterates the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing with diversification efforts in developing countries, especially in commodity-dependent countries, and, in this respect, stresses that: (a) International support for the efforts of developing countries in the industrial transformation of their commodities is required to increase their export revenues and improve their competitiveness with a view to facilitating their integration into the global economy; 2