6. It is clear, then, that the development path of the African region ha3 substantially departed from the objectives set out for the Third United Nations Development Decade, which provided for a GDP qrcwth rate of 7 per cent a year throuqhout the decade. Despite this, however, qiven the considerable resources of the reqion, and provided the riqht mix of policies are followed by Governmen+:.s, there is no reason why in the 1 onq run economic growth will not resume to lift African peoples from their present poverty. In this context the framework of objectives and policies provided })y the Laqos Pl > n of Action and the Monrovia Declaration is parti~ularly relevant, and constitutes an indispensable quide for actio~ in the years to come. 2 E/ECA/CM.?/5 I. END-OF-YEAR MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE sr;:::RETARY A. Preliminary assessment cf Africa's economic performance in 1982 1. As we apprrech the end of 1982, the tine has come for r:1e to undertake the annual stock-takinq of the ecc:ncmic performa nee of the African economy durinq the past 12 months, and to examine the prospects for the cominq year. 2. This time last year, I stated that "with reqa rd to the prospects for the African economy as a whole, I reqret to say that they are far from beinq briqht. · Even if there is sliqht recovery in tlw industrialized countries, conditions in Africa are unlikely to chanqe much for African oil-exporti nq countries, since there are no im­ mediate prospects. for an increase in .real terms in the price of oil and for the other countries, the balance of payment~s constraints are not qoinq to he removed quickly." 3. Reqrettably, this forecast, qloorny as it \las then, proved to be too optimistic when compared with the actual economic con­
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic performance of the African region, highlighting the departure from the objectives set for the Third United Nations Development Decade and the need for a right mix of policies to achieve economic growth. It also mentions the prospects for the African economy in 1982 and the challenges faced by African oil-exporting countries. This suggests that the text is primarily focused on economic development and international trade, with some reference to natural resources and environment.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade