(d)Tostrengthen existing regional mechanisms including theBangkok Agreement, theAsianClearing UnionandtheAsianReinsurance Corporation, andto investigate themodalities forincreased linksbetween economic groupings inthe region, topromote co-operation amongtheregion's chambers ofcommerce and industry, andentrepreneurs, withaviewtoincreased intra-regional trade; (e)Tocarryoutstudies offinancial requirements forthepromotion oftrade andtrade-related investments, and,inco-operation withmultilateral financial institutions andorganizations, totraingovernment officials andexecutives of financial andmonetary institutions inresource mobilization fortrade-related financing, withparticular emphasis onimprovement ofaccessibility toexport finance forsma11- andmedium-scale exporters inthedeveloping countries. 31.69Activities willbeundertaken topromote aprogramme ofpolicydevelopment intheminerals sectorthrough research andanalysis ofthecomparative experience intheregioninthedevelopment ofmineral sectorpolicies andtostrengthen co-operation between countries oftheregionthatproduce agricultural commodities. 31.70 Thebasiswillbelaidforadopting newtechnologies associated withthe Automatic SystemforCustoms DataandtheUnitedNations Electronic Data Interchange forAdministration, Commerce andTransport. 31.71 Asafurther measure oftradepromotion, ESCAPwill continue toprovide services tomembercountries through recurrent technical publications ofthe regional tradeinformation network (TISNET). Itwillalsoprepare anddisseminate theresults ofmarketresearch andstudies through technical publications suchas market guidebooks, traders' manuals andmarketprofiles ofselected products and commodities, willdevelop databasescovering, interalia,tradeflows,tariffand non-tariff measures bytheendoftheplanperiod, andwillapplymodern information technologies tocurtail delaysindatadissemination. Assistance will beprovided through advisory andconsultancy services andtraining, aswellas through tradefairs. 31.72 Emphasis willbegiventotheimprovement ofpolicies fortourism development onthebasisofanappraisal oftheeconomic impact oftourism. Activities underthesubprogramme willcontinue toattachspecial attention tothe development ofhumanresources andtominimizing theadverse impactoftourism on social andphysical environment. SUBPROGRAMME 9.NATURAL RESOURCES (INCLUDING MARINE AFFAIRS) (a)Objectives 31.73 Thelegislative authority forthesubprogramme derives fromGeneral Assembly resolutions 32/158, para.8and43/18; Economic andSocialCouncil resolutions 1979/67, 1979/68, 1979/70, 1981/80, 1981/81, 1983/57, 1985/49 and1987/9; and Commission resolution 45/5. -18-• Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library31.74 Themineral industry inthedeveloping countries oftheregionisnow gaining increasing recognition asanimportant contributor todevelopment. While earlier theindustry wasseenlargely asameanstoforeign exchange earnings, thereisagrowing awareness thatitsroleasasupplier ofrawmaterials for national industrial development ispotentially ofequalimportance. Thisis especially trueforthenewlyindustrialized countries andthosecountries expected toemerge asnewlyindustrialized countries intheforeseeable future. Itisfor thosecountries thattheneedforaccelerated mineral exploration, ideally leading totheestablishment ofatotalresources base,isadvocated. Whilehuman resources development inthemoreadvanced countries isbecoming established, the technical workforce intheminerals related areasoftheleastdeveloped countries isinadequate andthereislimited awareness ofrecent developments intheminerals industry withregardtoexploration concepts, techniques, mining andinvestment policies andthedevelopment otpotential markets intheregion.
**Analysis**
The text discusses various economic development initiatives and programs aimed at promoting trade, industry, and natural resources development in the region. It highlights the importance of mineral exploration and development, as well as human resources development in the mining sector. The text also mentions the need for policy development and research in the minerals sector, as well as the use of modern information technologies to promote trade and industry.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Natural resources and environment