COMMISSION ONTRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS REPORTONTHEFIFTEENTH SESSION (5-14April1989) .. ECONOMIC ANDSOCIAI,4COUNCIL OFFICIAL RECORDS, 1989 SUPPLEMENT No.10 UNITED NATIONSE/!989128lRev.1 E/C.IO/1989116/Rev.1 COMMISSION ONTRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS REPORTONTHEFIFTEENTH SESSION (5-14April1989) ECONOlVllC ANDSOCIAL COUNCIL OFFICIAL RECORDS, 1989 SUPPLEMENT No.10 UNITED NATIONS NewYork,1989E/19H9/2H/R~, .1 E/('.lO/19N9/16/ R~,.I ! II 1 ~~i ~.~'f <I '·1.'1 .'1 ·1'j I NOTE Symbols ofUnitedNationsdocuments arccomposed ofcapitalletterscombined with tigurc~, ---_._-------- E/1989/28/Rev,I E/C.10/1989/16/Rev. I ISSN0252-0141 ....'f,'"I. SUMMARY Thepotential roleofforeign investment instimulating economic growthin developing countries andasavehicle fortherestructuring and internationalization ofeconomies generally wasabasicthemeatthefifteenth sesslon oftheCommission onTransnational Corporations, aswastheneedto increase thecorresponding operations oftransnational corporations. Asreflected bythelargenumberofconsensus resolutions anddecisions, bothdeveloped and developing countries showedinterest inusingtheCommission asaforumfor co-operation ontheseandothermatters related totransnational corporations. TheCommission adopted fourresolutions direct investment andeconomic development. following:relating tooverall trendsinforeign Theseconcerned, interalia,the I.(a)Theimpact oninvestment flowstodeveloping countries ofstructural imbalances andregional economic integration processes takingplaceamongdeveloped countries; (b)Theneedtosubstantially increase thecontribution oftransnational corporations intheleastdeveloped countries through, interalia,appropriate policies andmeasures instituted byhome-country Governments; (c)Theneedforconcrete measures toencourage transnational corporations to respond positively toimprovements intheinvestment climate inAfrica; TheCommission approved amajorworkprogramme ontheactivities and strategies oftransnational corporations inthefieldoftheenvironment. Thework entails studying activities thathaveadverse environmental effects andfactors thatdetermine theallocation ofthoseactivities between developed anddeveloping countries; elaboratiLg criteria andoperational principles forstrengthening the participation oftransnational corporations inenvironmental protection efforts; gathering dataonsources ofinformation onenvironmentally hazardous technologies andtheavailability ofalternative technologies; identifying waysinwhich developing countries mightbenefit fromtheexperience ofothercountries; and examining thefeasibility ofestablishing afund,financed byvoluntary contributions fromtransnational corporations, tosupport developing countries in theirefforts toprotect theenvironment.(d) including differentThepotential foreconomic co-operation through joint developing countries.co-operation amongdeveloping countries, ventures amongnational corporations from TheCommission requested theChairman ofthespecial session oftheCommission, inco-ordination withtheExecutive Director oftheUnitedNations Centre on Transnational Cor~orations, tointensify consultations onthecodeofconduct on transnational corporations, withaviewtoresuming negotiations possibly nolater thantheendof1990. TheCommission againurgedalltransnational corporations toceaseoperations andallformsoftradeandeconomic linkswithSouthAfrica. -iii-.. .1 '.'~.··l':".,:.,,;1TheCommission approved thereportoftheIntergovernmental Working GroupofiExperts onInternational Standards ofAccounting andReporting onitsseventh1session andcommended theGrouponitswork. ~ ;i'.,.·~ Finally, theCommission requested thepreparation ofanumberofstudies in ~theareasmentioned above, including areport onthepresent andpotential ;J.•,_.'.activities oftra~snational banksrelated tothgexternal indebtedness of
**Analysis**
The report discusses the role of transnational corporations in stimulating economic growth, their impact on developing countries, and their activities in the field of environment. The report also touches on the need for cooperation among developing countries and the importance of international standards of accounting and reporting. These themes suggest that the report is primarily focused on economic development and environmental issues.

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