INTERVENTION BY M.W. MANGACHI, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE DEBATE ON CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AT THE C.S.D. INTERSESSIONAL WORKING GROUP

New York, February 25, 1997

The G-77 welcomes the statement of the European Union, particularly because it has addressed some of the issues which the G-77 raised in its statement yesterday. In particular, we welcome the pledge to raise ODA contributions from the current average low of 0.3% to the agreed level of 0.7%.

The issue of FDI merits detailed and careful study and reflection by developing countries to evolve a globally agreed regime. For of the average $32 billion. FDI flows almost $18 billion went to Asian region, only $ 4 billion went to African region and the remaining amount elsewhere. The main reason is that FDI flows to countries with the necessary infrastructure. Unless measures are taken with international support to improve conditions in the LDCs, ODA and concessional funding including multilateral financial institutions will continue to be the main sources of international financial support in these poor countries.

On technology transfer, the emphasis that this should be through the private sector does not offer a profound solution to the problem as posed by G-77 yesterday. In the course of the consultations the G-77 invites other groups in the search for more concrete ways of transferring technology to developing countries.

Production, high consumption levels and lifestyles continue to make heavy demand on the global environment. In this regard, the North is overwhelmingly responsible for both pollution and resource depletion. In order to alleviate the situation, the North should agree to significant reductions of the emissions of greenhouse gases; curb the use of toxic chemicals and substances and of the export of toxic and radioactive wastes to the developing countries; initiate negotiations for conventions that would ensure that the activities of Transnational Corporations are environmentally safe, undertake measures to change consumption and lifestyle patterns that pose a major threat to the global environment; and transfer of environmentally-sound technology to the South on preferential and non-commercial terms.