The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will set up a sub-regional office in Tonga to cater for climate change and the environment.

The new proposal was signed last week in Auckland during the Forum Leaders meeting between the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and the Secretary General of the SPC, Dr Jimmy Rodgers.

Dr Rodgers outlined that the move is part of the SPC's 2005 Communique, which directed the secretariat to expand its services and decentralize beyond the organizations two main locations in Fiji and New Caledonia.

Dr Rodgers says they have since, established regional offices in the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and now Tonga. The SPC will therefore be able to deploy programs and staff to be stationed permanently in Tonga. He added that the SPC - Tonga office will open new partnership with the Government of Tonga and while it may seem a small step but it does show that the organization will have a footprint in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Busby Kautoke, says the arrangement for the establishment of the regional office will be under the care of the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment. Press Release, Prime Minister's Office.