Press Release, Forum Secretariat

Suva, Fiji:

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will have a FJ$27 million Budget for 2005.

"Our members have approved a budget of change that reflects the work now being undertaken to further the decisions taken by Leaders throughout 2004," said Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin.

"This includes the extensive work being undertaken on the Pacific Plan for strengthening regional cooperation and integration. The Pacific Plan aims to promote peace and economic prosperity so that the people of the Pacific can lead free and worthwhile lives.

"The budget of change is also a vote of confidence by Pacific governments in the ability of regional organizations, such as the Forum, to advance their development interests," Mr Urwin said.

The Budget also covers elements of a new Corporate Plan, mandated by Leaders, for the Forum Secretariat. The new corporate plan includes expanded programmes to meet the four key goals of the Forum - economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

Mr Urwin said that the Secretariat had a strong and transparent financial system to ensure that funding was well spent.

The FJ$27 million budget is in two main parts. The regular budget of FJ$4.7 million, paid from member contributions, is used to run the operations of the Secretariat. The extra budget of FJ$22.3 million for the work programme comes from donors.

Last year's Budget was FJ$15.5 million, but this figure did not include the activities of the four Forum trade offices overseas. The Forum Secretariat has 85 staff at its headquarters in Suva and another 30 in four trade offices in Auckland, Beijing, Sydney and Tokyo.