The Regional Association II (Asia) management group for preparation of the 16th session of the Regional Association II (RA II-16) concluded a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi.

The World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) RA II-16 will be held in Abu Dhabi from 12th to 16th February, 2017, preceded by the seventh session of the Regional Conference (RECO-7), to be held from 10th to 11th February.

In September this year, the UAE and the WMO signed the hosting agreement for the meeting. The UAE will host the event for the first time.

Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, Executive Director of the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, NCMS, said that the WMO Regional Association meeting is held once in every four years to address regional concerns and priorities.

Doha hosted the last session.

''Hosting of the meeting supports the UAE’s drive to enhance its presence in international co-operation forums and is a major step forward in the government strategy to strengthen the UAE’s standing globally,'' he said in a statement read on his behalf by Ibrahim Al Hosani, Head of International Relations, NCMS.

RA II has 34 members stretching across much of Asia, from Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the west to Japan in the east. The Regional Associations also have a mandate to promote the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the WMO Congress and Executive Council and to co-ordinate regional activities.