A Pacific Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency is expected to be in operation by the third quarter of 2014.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community SPC,  stated that the centre "will work towards the creation of an enabling environment for regional renewable energy and energy efficiency markets by mitigating existing barriers."

It would also focus on the building of capacity, knowledge management and awareness in the region, as well as on business and investment promotion.

Regional centres for the Pacific and for the Caribbean were scheduled to come into operation about the same time, during the third quarter of this year.

Similar centres have been established in West Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa.

A two-day validation meeting of the Pacific Centre for Renewable energy and Energy Efficiency started in Nadi, Fiji on 12 March, and was attended by 30 representatives from regional energy sectors, governments, private sector and non-state organizations.

The meeting was organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO and supported by the Government of Austria.