Report of the eleventh meeting of the conference of African Ministers of Industry on problems, policies, issues and prospects by the year 2000 of Africa's basic industries, namely: chemical, metal and engineering industries

Abstract

The problems, policies, issues and prospects by the year 2000 of Africa's basic industries are discussed within the context of the implementation of the Programme of the Second IDDA (1991-2000), now in its third year. The programme of the Second IDDA is being implemented in an environment dominated by a critical socio-economic situation, civil strife, drought, famine and political uncertainty in many African countries. These problems dating back from the late 1970s have slowed down the pace of industrialization. Economic indicators from 1970 to 1992 are a record of failure and decline. The 1980s was a period of general economic and social retrogression for Africa. Indeed, many socio-economic indicators have continued to worsen. As an example, Africa's total external debt doubled between 1982 and 1991 amounting to US$ 277 billion, unemployment increased four times faster than in the 1970s, and the number of least developed countries rose from 17 to 31 out of a total of 51 African countries. This performance contrasts sharply with the steady progress experienced by the other developing countries and the recent uninterrupted prosperity of the developed countries, Africa's traditional trading and economic partners. The general deterioration in African economic and social conditions is a direct result of the worsening domestic development setting and the extremely unfavorable external economic and financial environment. The policy framework adopted during the last decade was not always adequate and often was inappropriate.