specific projects. Prototypes of low-cost furniture/joinery for small- scale industry were developed. 16. For the metallurgical industry, proposals were made to the countries in the Eastern and Southern African subregion to the effect that Governments should negotiate a master agreement for the promotion and development of the iron and steel industry. In the Central African subregion, advisory services were provided to the Maluku Steel Mill to enable it to attain economic capacity utilization through co-operation with interested member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States. In the chemical industries, proposals have been made for negotiations on multinational co-operation in fertilizer industry development in Eastern and Southern Africa and in West Africa. For the engineering subsector, negotiations with the Indian Government led to the granting of $US 310,000 for purchase of equipment by the African Regional Centre for Engineering Design and Manufacturing (ARCEDEM). Other backstopping activities for ARCEDEM also continued. 17. In connection with other major factors in support of IDDA programmes, a draft agreement on the management of the African Industrial Development Fund (AIDF) by ADB was finalized in Abidjan in November 1984. In intra- African co-operation, continued assistance to the secretariat of the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) for Eastern and Southern African States led to the preparation of its industrial development work programme. Similar assistance to the Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC) permitted the preparation of several in-depth sectoral studies, including one on the UDEAC common industrial development policy, which contains specific proposals to enable UDEAC to initiate implementation of the strategy of self-reliant and self-sustained industrial development. 3. Statistics 18. The major secretariat programmes concerned with national statistics include the African Household Survey Capability Programme, the Statistical Training Programme for Africa (STPA), the National Accounts Capability Pro­ gramme, and the Regional Advisory Service in Demographic Statistics; work on 
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on economic development initiatives and programs, particularly in the industrial sector, with a focus on development of specific industries such as metallurgy, chemical, and engineering. It also mentions statistics programs related to national accounts and demographic statistics. This suggests that the text is more relevant to economic development and industry.

**Category**
Economic development, Industry