text: available, butwouldhavetobecollected andmadeavailable tothoseinterested in exploration andminedevelopment. 19.37 Additional investment isrequired, onaselective basis, forsmallto medium-mining projects, forminesproducing goldandotherhigh-value materials and metals, forrehabilitation ofexisting facilities, forproduction ofnon-metallic minerals wherethosesubstitute forimported rawmaterials andformineral resources surveys generally. Government fundsandthoseprovided bymultilateral andbilateral co-operation agencies arelimited, andsubstantial contributions are required fromtheprivate sector, bothwithin developing countries andfrom international investors. Thereisaneedtocreate reasonable conditions for attracting finance while,atthesametime,maintaining theprinciple ofpermanent sovereignty overnatural resources. 19.38 Theobjectives ofthesubprogramme are: (a)Toassist developing countries tostrengthen theircapacities toexplore, develop andmanageeffectively theirmineral resources; (b)Toassist developing countries instrengthening theircapacity toensure theirpermanent sovereignty overnatural resources; (c)Toensure acontinuous flowofinformation toMember States onthe prospects for,trends onanddevelopment inselected minerals andinthe international minerals sector fordecision-making, including identification of financing andinvestment requirements; (d)Toco-operate withotherinternational organizations anddevelopment agencies inefforts topromote thetransfer oftechnology todeveloping countries, inparticular, theleastdeveloped countries. -8- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(b)CourseofactionoftheSecretariat 19.39 Whileinthepastmajorimportance wasassigned todiscovering mineral occurrences, themainelements ofthecourseofactiontobepursued duringthe 1990swouldbetosupport better management ofexisting resources. 19.40 Generally, activities include closeco-ordination oftechnical co-operation activities, research insupport ofsuchactivities, dissemination ofinformation on managerial, economic, technical andsocialprogress inallfieldswithinthe mineral resources sector, andprobably mostimportant, strengthening of institutions indeveloping countries andtraining ofpersonnel atalllevels. 19.41 Morespecifically, future programmes willaddress thesupply-demand balance formetals andminerals, theroleofminerals in_economic growth anddevelopment in developing countries, opportunities forinternational co-operation intheminerals field, problems ofrational management ofmineral resources, direct andefficient involvement ofcountries inallaspects ofresource development, andstrengthening ofindigenous capabilities toassureincreasing self-reliance ofthedeveloping countries. Activities willinclude: (a)Continuous monitoring ofconsumption, production, stocks, andpricesof themajormineral rawmaterials; (b)Assessments oflong-run trendsinmineral sector development (including investment, financing andutilization); (c)Systematic efforts toidentify emerging problem areasandissues involving minerals; (d)Identification ofthemacro-economic andinternational tradeimplications ofevolutionary changes andstructural shiftswithintheminerals sector; (e)Review andpreparation ofmineral policies andmining codesofdeveloping countries, assistance ininvestment andothercontract negotiations, financing arrangement, investment promotion andtraining incomputer-supported negotiation techniques; (f)Manpower development/training oftechnicians andprofessionals for mineral programmes inallareasofmineral development; (g)Detailed geochemical mapping; (h)Detailed ground andairborne geophysical surveys; (i)Preliminary feasibility studies: drilling, mineral sampling and
analysis: The text discusses the management and development of mineral resources, with a focus on strengthening the capacities of developing countries to explore, develop, and manage their mineral resources effectively. It also touches on the importance of international cooperation, technology transfer, and the need to create reasonable conditions for attracting finance while maintaining the principle of permanent sovereignty over natural resources. These themes suggest that the text is primarily related to the fields of economic development, natural resources, and international cooperation.