31 July 1992

42nd plenary meeting

Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, 1991-2000

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 44/237 of 22 December 1989, in which the Assembly proclaimed the period 1991-2000, the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, and Assembly decision 46/458 of 20 December 1991 on the programme for the Second Decade,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, in which the Assembly adopted the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, which identifies the Second Decade as a major programme for African regional economic integration,

Recalling further its resolution 1991/81 of 26 July 1991 on the Second Decade,

Stressing the need to integrate the programme for the Second Decade into the overall framework of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, in particular the commitment of African countries and the international community to promote domestic and foreign direct investment in Africa, as reflected in the relevant paragraphs of the New Agenda,

Recalling the relevant provisions of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992,

Considering resolution GC.4/Res.8 of 22 November 1991 of the fourth General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in which the General Conference adopted the programme for the Second Decade as one of the top priority programmes of that organization and recommended its adoption by the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1992,

Considering also resolution 739 (XXVII) of 22 April 1992 of the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, in which the Conference of Ministers adopted the programme for the Second Decade, and decision 1 (XXVII) of 22 April 1992, in which the Conference of Ministers recommended the adoption of the programme by the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1992, and the provision to the Economic Commission for Africa of adequate resources to enable it to support the African countries and subregional organizations in the implementation of their programmes for the Second Decade,

Cognizant of the appeal made by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, in resolution AHG/CM/Res.1399 (LVI) of 1 July 1992, to the General Assembly to adopt, at its forty-seventh session, the programme for the Second Decade, and of the endorsement by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the programme,

1. Endorses the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, including the national, subregional and regional components;

2. Recommends that the General Assembly, at its forty-seventh session, adopt the programme for the Second Decade;

3. Recommends that the General Assembly adjust the period for the programme for the Second Decade, established in its resolution 44/237, to cover the years 1993-2002;

4. Takes note of the efforts already undertaken in Africa to establish an environment to attract domestic and foreign investment, calls for further efforts in this regard and urges the international community to take the necesssary steps to encourage direct foreign investment and support the policy changes undertaken in African countries;

5. Recommends that the General Assembly urge the African countries, financial institutions and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to adopt an integrated approach to the implementation of the programme for the Second Decade, taking full account of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s;

6. Recommends also that the General Assembly urge the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, the institutions and agencies of the United Nations system, the African States and subregional and regional organizations to integrate the relevant provisions of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in the implementation of the Second Decade;

7. Appeals to the international community, particularly bilateral and multilateral funding institutions, to increase significantly their contributions to the industrial sector in African countries so as to ensure the successful and sustained implementation of the programme for the Second Decade;

8. Urges international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank, to ensure full support for the programme for the Second Decade and the effective implementation of that programme at the national and subregional levels;

9. Reiterates its recommendations that the General Assembly provide the Economic Commission for Africa with adequate resources to enable it to assist African countries and organizations effectively in the implementation of the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa.