The Commission at its nineteenth session emphasized the fact that information regarding industrial development in countries of the region was of great interest to other countries and could help to pave the way for joint-venture projects. It therefore suggested that the secretariat might compile and publish at regular intervals an Industrial Development News. As a first step in implementing that directive of the Commission, it is felt that the countries of the region should be presented with a review of industrial development in the region over the past decade which will serve as a background for further reading on current development in the fields of industry and natural resources. As 1965 is the mid-point of the United Nations Development Decade, it is also opportune to have a review of industrial development in the ECAFE region over a long period to facilitate assessment of past achievements and to indicate development trends and whether the pace of industrial development needs to be accelerated. This will, in turn, make it possible to lay down guidelines for action needed to accelerate industrialization. This review therefore covers industrialization in Asia and the Far East during the period 1953—1963. The engineering industry in ECAFE countries has been dealt with at length. As the basic chemical industries play an important role in industrial development in the developing countries of the region, information on the production of caustic soda and allied products is included in this issue.