UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL COUNCIL
"
Distr.
LIMITED
E/CN.14/L.236 11 February 1965 ENGLISH only
OUT , neE
,p
t
DOCUME:NT~
Fl'jf~
NO TO BE -1 AK£N ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
Seventh session
Nairobi, 9-23 February 1965 Item 5 of the Agenda
GENERAL STATEMENT BY THE ~EAD OF THE LIBERIAN DELEGATION
Mr Chai~man and Distinguished delegates:
On behalf of my delegation I express our sincere appreciation to President Kenyatta, you, Mr Chairman, and the Government and people of Kenya for making it possible for us to enjoy this "Garden City" of Nairobi. No location could be more conducive to harmony and the fraternal exchange of views on our common ideals and aspirations than what you afford us.
My delegation extends a warm welcome to our brothers from Malawi and Zambia who have now joined us as full members. Je are convinced
that in the very near future, all of Africa, with its abundant resources, will shape its own future in accordance with its own character around these conference tables.
]e congratulate you, Mr Chairman, upon your election and are
confident that under your astute leadership this Conference will attain a great measure of success.
\Ie congratulate the Executive Secretary and his staff for showing significant increases in productivity while performing their tasks
N65-108
E/GN.14!L.236 Page 2
during the last year. In his report to this session the Executive Secretary noted that the "final lam:ching" of the African Institute for
Economic Development and Planning is among the "three notable achieve- ments" in the implementation of EGA programmeG since the sixth session.
\Ie mention the Institute here primarily because we desire to dramatize the need for the full utilization of the services provided by the Institute. We cannot expect to have any significant continuity effects in the construction and implementation of the several
activities of EGA if the necessary trained personnel to perform these tasks are not forthcoming. Thus the role of the Institute in African development becomes most crucial and we must constantly maximize our efforts to enable the Institute to provide continously an inflow into the pool of African development technicians.
The Secretariat has shown a desirable degree of flexibility in its ability to re-shape proposals for its work programme in accordance with new priorities. It is but right that the work programme be re- formulated as conditions change.
We voice our unflagging support for the appeal made at the Fifth and Sixth Sessions that the Commission should in the future be held in two yearly intervals. The implementation of this appeal would increase our productivity at ECA sessions and also facilitate a more efficient production of ECA projects, for less attention would be given to the adjustment of th8 Executive Secretary's Office to meet the annual demands of EGA sessions.
Again we congratulate the Secretariat for its work and report and expect higher productivity levels in the years that lie ahead.
The Liberian economy is faced with a major recession for the second consecutive year. The recession continues primarily because of multiple events occuring simultaneously: unanticipated delays in reaching forecast iron ore production targets, price declines for major exports; specifically, rubber and iron ore constitute the core
"
.~. \
.,
,
\
E/CN.14/L.236 Page 3
of the dominant problems in the Liberian economy. Despite the recession the development budget secures the maximization of the major development effort. Construction stages of all four iron mines will have been completed this year. Iron ore export is expected to increase from 11.8 million tons in 1964 to about 14 million tons in 1965, and is expected to reach a level of 20 million tons within the next five years.
Declined rubber prices have forced many marginal farms to cease operations while more efficiently operated farms are increasing production, but not efficiently operated farms are increasing production, so as to offset the inbalance.
Minerals now constitute the most important source of revenue. In view of these conditions my Government has undertaken steps to ensure the maximum utilization of its revenue through strict bUdgetary
controls and the establishment of priorities.
In an effort to further mobilize its resources of expansion, my Government has embarked upon an industrialization programme. It has already established a development corporation, and the Industrial
Development Bank will be in operation by the end of March of this year.
In view of the several development problems, not only in Liberia but in the rest of.Africa,tl;le prospects for the minimization of these problems rest on our ability to construct and implement development projects. The Bamako Conference on the Harmonization and Integration of Industrial Development in the West African sUb-region laid the basis for integrated iron and steel works for the sub-region. My Government attaches great importance to sub-regional co-operation and as a prior condition towards achieving the erection of an integrated plant for the sub-region, my Government has sent a mission to West African Governments to discuss with them the framework under which this kind of co-operation can take place. Within this context, my Government has proposed the construction of an integrated iron and steel works to serve its own market and a substantial portion of the Rest African
E/CN.14/L.236 Page 4
market. The feasibility study which had been commissioned much earlier by my Government has shown that steel can be produced in Liberia at prices competitive with world market. Negotiations are now being considered for the implementation of the project.
My Government has given unflagging support to the establishment of the African Development Bank. The coming into existence of the bank in 1964 offers a challenge to all of Africa. ~e urge those
mem3er states who have not acceded to the agreement establishing the bank to do so. We congratulate the Executive Secretary and his staff,
the Committee of Nine, and particularly thank the Secretary General of the UN for serving as trustee of the Bank and request Mr. de Seynes, who has also shown great inrerest in this project to convey our
expression to Secretary General U Thant, and all those who contributed to the early establishment of the Bank. It is our sincere hope that the bank will have a significant impact upon African development.
My delegation hopes that during this session concrete proposals will emerge in regards to co-operation between the ECA and the OAU.
We must here and now realize that construction and implementation of development projects are a critical function of member states. As ECA has now reached the action stage,it is, we believe, prepared to give support to our endeavours. In conclusion, my delegation
believes that we in Africa must now begin to give greater concern to inter-African economic co-operation if any full measure of co-
ordinated economic development is to be achieved on this continent.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
,
\ .
< •
I
•
