promoting MI.tEs have been prePared. These stualieg are Co serve as background papers for future sectoral meetings. Also seudies on joint Procurenent anong the developinq Asian and selected developinq African countries have been conpleted ' The UNCTAD secretariat bas also carried out inventorie6 ot existing MME s tor Latin Anerica and Afrlca, anat in co-operation xith FAO and the Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), is currently sludyinq the feasibiLity of establ.ishing rnultinational narketlng enterprlses for fish and fish products' tropical tinber, splces and natural rubber, anonq the ESCAP developing counEries' 38. nith the support of ITNCTAD, regional neetings of MI'rEa have been organized in Latin Anerica to analyse the operational problens f.ced btt these enterprises' Furthernore, ln the sane region, the LNCTAD secretariat has provided technical support !o the Latln American Economic systen (SELA) for sectinq up MME s or othet A/40/58L Eng lish Page 12 narke!ing arrangements, ateal i ngproducersr associationg such ag tbe Group ot Latin Anerican andeith fi6heries and handicrafts, as fell ae tothe Unlon of Banana Enportlng Countries (UPEB) Caribbean Sugar Bxporting Countr les (GEPLACEA)and (v) t.|ultinatlonal product.lon enterpEisea (ilpEs] 39. The UNCTAD secretariat i.nltiated a procesa of consultation uith covernments of developing countrles to ialent.ify opportunitlea for nutual co-operation in Ehe establishnenc of nultinational prod$ction enterpriseE in a nunber of sectors that had been the aubject of earlier studles undertaken in collaboration t'ith UNIDO andFAO. As part of this preessl, the I'NCTAD eecretariat, in close consultation uiththe aleveloplng countriea, collected and analysed data that led to theidEntification of a ralge number of specific project opportunitiea in three majorindustrlal sectors, and technical reports have been prepared covering fertilizers,rubber proceaed productB anal pulp and paper.
**Analysis**
The text discusses various initiatives and projects related to promoting economic development and cooperation among developing countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. It highlights the establishment of multinational marketing enterprises, joint procurement, and the identification of specific project opportunities in various industrial sectors. This suggests that the category should be related to economic development, international trade, and industry.

**Category**
Economic development, Industry, International trade