The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General says young people are the region's biggest investment for the future and the Pacific has no choice but to tackle youth development issues.
Greg Urwin was speaking after receiving the Pacific Youth Statement from delegates who attended the recent Pacific Youth Summit in Samoa in May.
Mr Urwin says Pacific youth are sometimes seen as the problem, rather than as change agents for positive developments.
He says the challenge is to give youth the opportunity to be those change agents, in sectors such as education, employment, leadership and governance.
The Pacific Youth Statement will be incorporated into draft of the Pacific Plan.
The draft is to go to Pacific leaders at their summit in Papua New Guinea in October.
