What trends can be seen in structural change in general and industrialization in specific in developing countries since the new millennium? How much is there a common pattern across different regions? How to build a database enabling the cross-country comparison on structural change?

What factors have been driving the deindustrialization – a consistent decline in the contribution of manufacturing sector to GDP – in countries of several developing regions such as Latin America and Sub-Sarah Africa? Can countries bypass manufacturing on path to prosperity? What may be expected in terms of trends in industrialization in developing countries over the next decade or so?

How have agro-processing industries performed in developing countries? How can governments in developing countries design effective development polices in promoting the agriculture-driven transformation?

What is the role of international trade in effecting structural change? What kinds of new opportunities and challenges have been brought about by global value chains in fostering structural transformation in developing countries?

How can governments in developing countries leverage special economic zones (SEZs) to jumpstart industrialization? What lessons have been learnt from the past experiences of SEZs in promoting structural transformation? How can developing countries formulate effective development strategies in harnessing the power of SEZs in the process of industrial upgrading and economic transformation?