The development of competitive agro-industries is crucial for creating employment and income opportunities as well as enhancing the demand for farm products. However, in order to avoid adverse effects to vulnerable countries and people, sound policies and strategies for fostering agro-industries are needed. This book has been developed from a meeting of policy makers, governments, UN technical agencies and agro-industry specialists. It addresses the strategies and actions required for improving agro-industrial competitiveness in ways that can contribute to broad-based economic development and poverty reduction. This book is a co-publication with FAO and UNIDO