UN Postal Authority’s snail mail races into profit for first time in decade
United Nations snail mail sprinted into the black in the first six months of 2004 after years of wallowing in red ink as the world body’s Postal Administration (UNPA) registered its first net profit since 1994 thanks to lowered operating costs and new marketing initiatives such as personalised stamps.
UNPA, which has been issuing stamps since 1951 for mailings from its various headquarters with themes devoted to peace, health, the environment and other global concerns, expects to maintain or even improve on the net profit of USD706,434 for the first half of this year as more new products are introduced.
This is a big turn-around after a USD3.46 million loss over the 2000-2001 two-year period and a proposal at the last session of the General Assembly to close down UNPA altogether. The measure was defeated after assurances from the agency and the Department of Management that it could be restructured into profitability.
A popular innovation was introduced at New York Headquarters last November allowing the thousands of tourists who visit the complex every day to have their own image affixed to a blank tab next to an actual UN stamp – at USD14.95 for a personalised sheet of 20.
UN stamps are available in three different currencies – in US dollars since 1951 in New York, in Swiss francs since 1969 at the European headquarters in Geneva, and in Austrian schillings since 1979 at the Vienna office.
Definitive stamps and postal stationery items are issued to meet revised postal rates of the three national postal administrations as necessary, while commemoratives come out six or seven times a year to honour the work or activities of the UN or one of its specialized agencies.
