System using the services of the Pan-African Documentation and Information System (PADIS). 66. A major achievement was the establishment of the Federation of African Chambers of Commerce in September 1984, when its Constitution was adopted (E/ECA/TRADE/20),.fulfilling the wishes expressed by the Heads of State and Government of OAU in the Lagos Plan of Action. Twenty-four national chambers of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture signed the Constitution. The ECA secretariat was designated to serve as an interim secretariat of the Federation and assisted its Bureau and the Governing Council in working out ways of establishing an autonomous secretariat that would become fully operational by January 1986 with its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. 67. With regard to trade promotion, ECA undertook follow-up activities and prepared reports on the Joint Forest Industries Advisory Group/ Africa Trade Centre (FIAG/ATC) programme for the export of Eastern and Southern Africa's wood and wood products to the Middle East. In that connection, a market research and study tour was conducted in Middle Eastern and North African countries early in 1984. 68. Advisory services were provided as follows: the National Bank of Ethiopia and the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia were assisted in completing a study on import consolidation and trade information with a view to reducing foreign currency wastage in import operations; advice was given on ways of implementing UDEAC's project on trade information systems in co-operation with the International Trade Centre/United Nations Conference on Trade and Development/General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (ITC/ UNCTAD/GATT); assistance was given to the Djibouti and Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce in their bilateral negotiations on Ethio-Djibouti trade issues. - 26 - (d) Monetary and financial relations 69. The secretariat's activities took place in an unfavourable inter­ national climate. For most African countries, the flow of official development assistance (ODA) had declined, interest rates remained high 
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the economic development of Africa, specifically highlighting the establishment of a federation of African chambers of commerce, trade promotion activities, and advisory services on import consolidation and trade information. It also mentions the decline of official development assistance and high interest rates, which suggests a broader economic context.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development