requirements ofthemarkets ofdeveloped countries, otherdeveloping countries and theregional market: (d)Identification oftheimpediments totradeexpansion anddiversification whichareinherent indomestic tradepromotion policies andananalysis oftheir effectiveness, aswellastheidentification ofinstitutional support peedswith particular reference totradefinancing; (e)Identification 'ofthewaysandmeansofstrengthening theroleplayed by theprivate sectorinpromoting export andimporttradeandenhancing regional co-operation; (f)Identification ofwaysandmeansofstrengthening tradeinformation and improving theefficiency oftradefacilitation measures. SUBPROGRAMME 7.NATURAL RESOURCES (a)Objectives 34.70 Thelegislative authority ofsubprogramme 7derives fromEconomic andSocial Council resolutions 1985/157, paragraphs 2,3and5;1987/7; 1985/49; 1985/52, paragraph 1;1987/9; 1987/10, paragraph 4;and1983/54; andCommission resolution 155(XV),paragraph 2. -18- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library• j j34.71 Theproblems addressed inthesUbprogramme areasfollows: (a)Lackofthorough, quantitative andqualitative assessment ofthe available andpotential waterresources intheregionwhichisaprerequisite for optimum utilization andefficient allocation oftheseresources; (b)Absence ofadequate waterplanning andpolicies thatwouldbringabout thedevelopment andconservation ofavailable waterresources; (c)Inadequate watersecurity intheregion, owingtoinsufficient rational development, management, utilization andconservation ofwaterresources atthe regional, subregional andnational lev~ls; (d)Inadequate basichydrological, hydrogeological andhydrometeorological dataatnational andregional levels owingtotheirscantiness andwide distribution inspaceandtime; (e)Manpower availability andadequacy inthewatersectors arestill critical forallskilled andexpertlevelsintheESCWAregion; .(f)Lackofregional co-operation andco-ordination ofminingactivities: (g)Difficulty encountered bymostofthenon-oil-producing countries in obtaining sophisticated technology onexploration andexploitation ofmineral resources coupled withanabsence oftechnical capabilities andashortage of skilled andwell-trained manpower; (h)Ashortage offinancial resources, whichcontinues tobefallvital mineral projects insomecountries oftheregion, especially thetwoleast developed countries oftheregion. 34.72 Theobjectives ofsubprogramme 7areasfollows: Inthewaterresources sector: (a)Toincrease awareness oftheinterrelationship between thephenomenon of waterscarcity ontheonehand,andpopulation, urbanization andtheprocess of sustainable development ontheother; (b)Toassistintheenhancement ofwaterquality andtheimprovement of waterresources; (c)Topromote regional andsubregional co-operation inordertoensure security intheregion byestablishing principles fortheoptimum utilization available waterresources, particularly inthecaseofsharedwaterbasins;water of (d)Toenhance awareness andknowledge onground-water pollution andits causes, namely, leaking septictanks,wasteandtoxicchemical dumpsandrun-off fromfertilized fields. Inthemineral resources sector: (a)Tocontribute totheassessment ofmineral resources andthedevelopment oftheirexploration andmanagement; -19- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(b)-Toconcentrate ontheintroduction ofnewandappropriate techniques in theassessment, development andplanning ofmineral resources intheregion; (c)Topromote regional andsubregional co-operation inthedevelopment of mineral resources, withemphasis onsea-bed mineral resources andnon-metallic minerals; (d)Tofacilitate theestablishment ofaregional databankformineral resources; (e)Topromote effective management inthedevelopment ofmineral resources andstrengthen manpower training activities intheregion. (b)Course ofaction ofthesecretariat 34.73 Themeansofaction envisaged bythesecretariat underthissubprogramme are asfollows: