The acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum says he believes he has the right skill set to take on the position formally.
Feleti Teo has been filling in since the sudden retirement earlier this year, on health grounds, of Greg Urwin.
He was revealed this week as the third candidate vying for the post, joining Samoa's Tuiloma Nerona Slade, a judge on the International Criminal Court, and the Cook Islands Foreign Minister, Wilkie Rasmussen.
Mr Teo is from Tuvalu where he worked in the government before heading the Forum Fisheries Agency and later becoming a deputy to Mr Urwin at the Forum.
"I have got the right combination. In terms of age I am still in my early forties and this job is a pretty demanding job and needs someone who has the vision and determinations to take on board, assist the leaders in addressing those issues and I think I have got something to offer to region."
Feleti Teo