The new WMO Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific has started operations in Singapore. Hosted by the Meteorological Service Singapore, the new office aims to improve coordination on hazards including extreme weather and air pollution and to strengthen meteorological services for rapidly evolving economic sectors such as air and marine transport.
WMO Regional Director for Asia-Pacific, Chung Kyu Park, relocated from WMO headquarters in Geneva to head the new office with effect from 1 September.
As one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions and a booming transport hub, Asia and the South-West Pacific has an ever-increasing demand for reliable weather and climate services. Singapore was selected because of its central position relative to WMO Asia and Pacific Member states, flight connectivity and modern IT infrastructure. The existing WMO Offices for West Asia based in Bahrain and for the South-West Pacific in Samoa will report to the team in Singapore as well as to WMO headquarters.
The move is part of a wider WMO strategy to strengthen its regional presence, to improve services to its Members and deepen relationships with development partners. The WMO Regional Office for Africa will also move in early 2019 to Addis Ababa to bolster activities on the African continent.
“The relocation of the Regional Offices will reinforce regional cooperation and coordination and underpin WMO’s capacity-development initiatives in support of sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” said Mary Power, WMO Director of Development and Regional Activities.
For more information: https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/wmo-regional-office-asia-pacific-opens-singapore
