RA V elected a new president, Dr. Andi Eka Sakya (Indonesia), and re-elected the vice president, Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu (Tonga).The four priorities for the Region for the period 2016–2019 are:
- Maintenance and improvement of observations and telecommunication networks at the regional and national level through completion of the implementation of the WMO Information System (WIS) and the WMO Integrated Observing System (WIGOS);
- Delivery of improved climate services through the establishment of the optimum network of Regional Climate Centres to sustainably implement the GFCS;
- Implement effective education and training programmes that build the capability of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in resource management, advocacy and outreach, and the use of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP); and
- Achievement by all Members of the standards required for quality management and staff competencies, with a focus on aviation and marine meteorology.
Other major RA V-16 outcomes include:
- Refinement and implementation of the RA V Strategic Operating Plan 2012–2015 and the development of the RA V Operating Plan 2016–2019;
- Adoption of a Regional WIGOS Implementation Plan (R-WIP-V) and a Regional WIS Implementation Plan (R-WIS-IP);
- Adoption of a new working mechanism for the RA V and establishment a Management Group, four Working Groups and a Tropical Cyclone Committee; and
- Engagement and contribution to the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be held in Apia, Samoa from 1 to 4 September.
RA V Members also recognized the importance of strengthening existing, and setting up new, multi-hazard early warning systems in light of disasters related to tropical cyclones/typhoons, floods, drought, earthquakes and tsunamis such as Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines in November 2013, and Tropical Cyclone Ian in Tonga in January 2014.
