27th April, 2018 “The PCREEE is a regional entity but it is also a national treasure for Tonga”, was the key message delivered by Mr Paula Ma’u, CEO of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication during the celebration of the first year anniversary of the PCREEE on Thursday 26th April.
Nuku’alofa is host to the PCREEE and the CEO urged the more than 40 people that attended the celebration to support the PCREEE in arrangements which are win-win-win for everyone. “We have been entrusted by the Leaders of the Pacific to host this special centre and Tonga and its partners are duty-bound to ensure the PCREEE serves it mission to our Pacific Community family.
“The first birthday is always a momentous occasion in just about every culture in the world, Tonga included. It is the first milestone to mark the resilience and the ability of the newborn to fend off sickness and diseases and to slowly move out from being very vulnerable physically, mentally and spiritually and to start building its own resilience system. It is an occasion where the baby starts walking. The baby becomes a joy and is loved by everyone in the family. I hope we can all support the PCREEE to walk faster and even to run after its first year anniversary,” said the CEO.
The gathering heard congratulatory messages from UNIDO, the government of Austria and the Secretary General of the SIDS Dock (Dr. Al Binger), the core partners in the establishment of the PCREEE.
PCREEE is among a network of global regional centres of excellence on renewable energy and energy efficiency. There are already 7 UNIDO-established regional centres in the network. They are all working towards the common goal of turning away from fossil fuel to renewable energy and energy efficient technologies – a reform that is to be driven by the private sector and the business community.
PCREEE is under the auspices of the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with its sister regional organisations (PIFS, PPA, SPREP and USP).
ENDS
Issued by the: Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.