PRESS STATEMENT - Tuesday, 23 November 2010 - The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade welcomed the release today of the 2010 Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report.

The report provides an overview of work undertaken from May 2009 to mid 2010 by Forum Island Member Countries and Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies to implement the Pacific Plan priorities endorsed by Leaders' at the Forum meeting in 2009.

"The Pacific Plan remains the preeminent strategic document for regional cooperation and integration," said Mr Slade

"This annual progress report is an important part of reporting to the Pacific and the global community on all the work that has been undertaken over the last 12 months to deliver on the Leader's vision for the Pacific Plan.

"As the report highlights, there have been gains in areas such as fisheries, transport, development cooperation, energy and climate change. But much work remains to be done if we are to support a region of peace, prosperity and opportunity for all," said Secretary General Slade.

He stated: "I would like to publically acknowledge the efforts of Member countries and CROP agencies in reporting against the Pacific Plan, and their preparedness to work in partnership to deliver strong regional outcomes for the Pacific. This annual progress report is another example of how we can work and report collectively on our efforts."

An accompanying annex to this year's Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report has also been produced detailing the work of Member countries and CROP agencies against the Leader's priorities agreed in 2009. The 2010 Annual Progress Report (in English and French) and the annex are available electronically at the Pacific Islands Forum website (click below) or in hardcopy from the Pacific Plan Office by emailing salanietam@forumsec.org.fj or rosib@forumsec.org.fj.