EU Presidency Statement - Industrial development cooperation

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia), as well as the other associated countries (Cyprus, Malta, Turkey), align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

I will now address item 96b of the agenda, i. e. « Implementation of the Programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa".

9. We would first like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the « Implementation of the Programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1993-2002) », and congratulate the Economic Commission for Africa and UNIDO for their activities aiming at fostering industrial development in Africa. The report provides a good description of some progress that has been made, but also of the vast challenges that the industrialization of Africa is faced with: widespread poverty, overall shortage of human and financial resources and investment, obsolescence of technical capabilities, lack of information and communication technologies, inadequacy of physical and institutional infrastructure, and above all the devastating impact of conflicts.

10. Regarding the Programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa itself, the report indicates rightly that one year before its end, results have been far below expectations. The European Union fully agrees with the Secretary-General on the need to « reassess urgently all the operations related to the preparation, the implementation and the evaluation of the Industrial Development Decade for Africa and to identify an approach that can be easily adapted to the major policy changes that have taken place in the last decade ». The final review of the New Agenda of the United Nations for the Development of Africa in the 90's will provide an appropriate context to elaborate these ideas within the broader framework of the major UN initiatives for the development of Africa and of the New African Initiative. This « New African Initiative » (NAI) that the African Heads of State have adopted at their recent Summit in Lusaka demonstrates clearly that the African countries are ready to take responsibility for their own development. In this regard, we also welcome the Abuja Summit of October 23, which has enabled them to consolidate this « New Partnership for Africa's Development » (NEPAD) and to take a number of operational decisions. The European Union is pleased to note that the « New Partnership » proposes practical steps to stem the trend to reindustrialization of African economies, in particular through harmonization of technical regulatory frameworks and investments in sectors where Africa has a comparative advantage.

Mr. President,

11. In their recent declaration at the last session of the Economic and Social Council, our Ministers have recognized again the importance of diversification and competitivity of economies for the promotion of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty in African countries: in this respect, they have called for further support for the implementation of Africa's industrialization strategies. As the Secretary-General indicates rightly in his report: « if we want to industrialize Africa, we must first begin by strengthening its private sector ». In order to mobilize this sector, « an appropriate and constructive nexus between the state, industry and business, civil society organizations and individuals, including the state and the market is an important factor ». Capacity and institution building, establishment of joint ventures and micro-finance could contribute to this. For the European Union, the promotion of this interrelationship is a major challenge for the International Conference on Financing for Development. We wish to remind here that our Ministers, in the same declaration, have called for attention to the specific needs of African countries. In this respect, the European Union welcomes the trade-facilitating initiative that UNIDO has just launched with a view to the Monterrey Conference. This initiative aims at encouraging the participation of developing countries in international trade and addresses directly the needs identified by the NEPAD in terms of standardization and quality control of export products. A first regional programme has already been started in Western Africa with European Commission assistance. Moreover, at the Europe-Africa Summit of Cairo, partners have agreed to strive for a strengthening of production capacities and competitivity.

Mr. President,

12. The economic recovery and development of Africa are a major concern for the European Union. As it has demonstrated in the past, it is ready to assume its responsibilities and support the African continent in its development and industrialization efforts. Access by African countries to the market of developed countries is an important aspect of industrial development. The Union is convinced that its unilateral initiative to open up its market to the LDCs will contribute to it.

I thank you for your attention.

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