27 July 1984

Meeting 50

Implementation of the programme for the Industrial Development Decade for Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 35/66B of 5 December 1980, by which the Assembly proclaimed the 1980s as the Industrial Development Decade for Africa, section II of Assembly resolution 36/182 of 17 December 1981, section II of Assembly resolution 37/212 of 20 December 1982 and section II of Assembly resolution 38/192 of 20 December 1983, concerning the Industrial Development Decade for Africa,

Recalling also resolutions 442(XVII), adopted on 30 April 1982 by the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, concerning the formulation and implementation of a programme for the Industrial Development Decade for Africa, and 466(XVIII), adopted on 2 May 1983 by the Conference of Ministers, concerning the implementation of the Industrial Development Decade for Africa,

Welcoming resolution CM/Res.941(XL), adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its fortieth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 27 February to 5 March 1984,

Reiterating the need to accord priority to the development of strategic core industries that provide intrasectoral and intersectoral linkages and essential input for the production and processing of natural resources, especially food and agricultural products,

Convinced of the need to undertake concerted action for the mobilization of financial resources, including technical assistance from the secretariats of the Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Organization of African Unity and from other African and international organizations and bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, for the implementation of the programme for the Decade,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the General Assembly for its decision, in section II of resolution 38/192, to increase the allocation to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization from the regular budget of the United Nations by $1 million in 1984 for assistance to African countries and to intergovernmental organizations in the implementation of the programme for the Industrial Development Decade for Africa, notes with interest the appeal made by the Seventh Conference of African Ministers of Industry, held at Addis Ababa from 26 to 28 May 1984, that the allocations made by the General Assembly for the Decade should reach an annual level of at least $5 million and be placed on a permanent basis, and calls upon the General Assembly to give it due attention; to this end, a similar arrangement should be considered for the Economic Commission for Africa to enable it and its Multinational Programming and Operational Centres to assist member States at the subregional level in their consultations, nego

tiations and investment promotion for multi-country projects;

2. Welcomes with appreciation the generous financial contributions made by a number of countries to the Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and some African regional centres for the implementation of activities related to the Decade;

3. Reiterates the repeated appeals made to the international community, particularly the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Fund for International Development of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and other international organizations, multilateral and bilateral agencies and financial institutions to increase and intensify their technical and financial assistance, on preferential conditions, to African countries and to intergovernmental organizations in the formulation and implementation of the programme for the Decade.