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AFRICA-CARIBBEAN-PACIFIC - EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

MEETING POINT: Dr Subroto

‘What we are aiming at is to match supply with demand in such a way that we ensure a stable oil price, to the benefit of the world at large’. This is how Dr Subroto, who is the Indonesian Secretary-General of OPEC, sums up the current policy of the organisation which he heads. In an interview with The Courier, Doctor Subroto also talks about the influence of OPEC in the world oil markets, the way in which it continues to function despite some bitter internal political divisions (its membership includes Iraq, Kuwait and Iran) and the implications of growing environmental concerns for the oil trade.

ACP-EEC Joint Assembly

Amsterdam was the venue for the latest session of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly which was held from 23 to 27 September. In an atmosphere which, for much of the time, was distinctly subdued, the parliamentarians and ACP representatives discussed a range of issues including services, intra-ACP trade, and democracy and human rights. Among the more animated moments, was a debate on the famine issue, in which the Government of Sudan came under the microscope.

COUNTRY REPORTS

KENYA: At 3.8% per annum, Kenya has one of the highest population growth rates in the world. Currently estimated at 24 million, the population is expected to increase to more than 35 million by 2010. This means for a country with I workforce of around 8 million creating at least 6 million new jobs by that year. In this regard, government has adopted a strategy includes, among other things establishing a broadly-diversified export-oriented manufacturing.

THE COMOROS: The Indian Ocean islands, The Comoros, have been in political turmoil for the past two years, following the country’s decision to adopt multi-party democracy after 11 years of autocratic rule by President Abdallah. This, however, comes at a time when The Comoros is facing very serious economic difficulties.

DOSSIER: Oil

Oil is arguably the single most important commodity traded in the world today. It is used principally as a source of energy, accounting for almost 40% of world primary energy consumption. It is also the basic material for a wide range of products from road surfaces to plastic materials. In the Dossier, we examine this most vital of resources in the context of development and the ACPs - with particular emphasis on the economic and environmental aspects.