as a mature and responsible member of the world community and to ParticiPate actively in international co-operation so as to promote peace and prosperity in the world. Hopinq that our ParticiPation in this special session will provide momentum for our makinq siqnificant contributiors to the United Nations, I wish to exPress once aqain our full confidence in the mandate of this special session and to renew our support for its successful conclusion. J JSM/dl A/S-18/PV. 4 166 The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): Pursuant to the decision taken by the General Assembly at its first Plenary meetinq on 23 April, I n0111 call on the President of the African DeveloPment Bank, Mr. Babacar Ndiaye. Mr~ NDIAYE (African Development Bank) (interpretation from French): Africa today is in the midst of extraordinary economy difficulty. We are witnessinq not a transient phenomenon of little siqnificance but a protracted period of economic retroqression. Real per capita inoomes are today l0111er than they were in 1980. We have seen serious budqetary and trade imbalances and imPOrt reductions exacerbated by the drastic fall in oommodity prices. Drouqht and famine have also had their toll; and the deterioration of the physical environment n0111 threatens both the livelihood of millions of people and sustained development, and the heavy burden of external &bt remains a major obstacle to investment and national qrowth. Economic indicators tell only part of the story. The economic crisis means that 1 ivinq conditions in parts of Africa, already amonq the lowest in the world, have deteriorated further to levels which are unacceptable to modern civilization. What is remarkable is that, at the same time, the more fortunate countries of the developed world enjoyed a period of relative achievement dur inq the 1980s. We 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic difficulties faced by Africa, mentioning specific issues such as economic retrogression, budget and trade imbalances, and the impact of drought and famine. It also touches on the external debt burden and its effect on investment and national growth. The language used suggests a focus on macroeconomic indicators and the overall state of the economy, rather than specific sectors or industries.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade