A country that is able to produce things and export to
Other countries and make profits from what they produce has a higher chance of developing than a country that only import goods without them having any profits instead they lose.
This is exactly what it means for a country to experience development they must be more of a producing nation than an importing nation because depending on what other countries produce can only cripple the economy of the country it doesn't add to the GDP of the nation. The underdeveloped countries are used as dumping grounds for the developed and the developing countries that is why you see most of the underdeveloped countries finding it difficult to think of things they need to produce to attract other investors from investing in their country or buying things from them and it keeps them from getting into debt because they have nothing to sell to develop their economy.