U.N. Approves Aid Worth $230m

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31576, 13 January 1968, Page 15

U.N. Approves Aid Worth $230m

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, Jan. 12. The United Nations Development Programme yesterday approved projects worth almost SUS23Om to boost industry, agriculture and other aspects of the economy of 69 developing countries. The 37-nation governing council of the U.N.D.P. set aside about SUS9Im for the 100 schemes and the recipient governments will provide the rest. Aid will take the form of international experts, granting of fellowships and provision of equipment to countries

requesting assistance from U.N.D.P. The projects vary from mineral and geological surveys to the training of school teachers. The programme is financed by voluntary contributions from United Nations members, the United States being the largest donor. At a pledging conference in October, 105 governments promised SUSIB2m. Africa received the largest share of the programmes, which were started yesterday —$US37m for large-scale projects in 26 African countries. Asia and the Far East were given about SUS2Sm, Latin America and the Caribbean about $U517,500,000, the Middle East almost SUS6m, and European nations about SUS6m. Rumania, Bulgaria and Mongolia were among the countries receiving assistance, although these Socialist nations will themselves provide the bulk of the financing for the schemes approved. Of the projects, which will take from eight months to six years to complete, the largest number will be in agriculture. The number of schemes being aided by the U.N.D.P. is 873, at a cost of SUS2IO7m. Yesterday’s was the largest single granting of assistance by the U.N.D.P., which has been operating since 1959.