UPU regional round table on the future World Postal Strategy
“This plan gives us hope for the future of the postal business as the postal service remains the most important means of communication for the majority of the population,” said Norman Munzhelele of the South African Ministry of Communication, at the close of the second UPU regional round table on the future World Postal Strategy, which took place on 18 and 19 July in Nairobi, Kenya, host city of the 2008 UPU Congress.
As was the case during the first round table held in St. Petersburg in June, the more than 30 African countries attending this UPU regional round table gave the green light to the proposed framework for the 2009–2012 World Postal Strategy.
The round table was organized in cooperation with the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU).
The future strategy, which will be presented for adoption at the 2008 Nairobi Congress, is built around three main objectives, including network interconnectivity, postal sector governance and economic and market development.
Countries underlined the importance of access to universal service for all, and the single postal territory. They expressed appreciation for the UPU’s Development Plan for Africa and other UPU development cooperation activities in the region, but stressed the importance of equal opportunities for all countries without any discrimination. These views were strongly supported by UPU Director General Edouard Dayan.
For his part, Gabon Post’s Felix Mavoungou Souamy said the round table gave countries the opportunity to get a broad understanding of the new strategy and its objectives, which his postal enterprise would be in favor of implementing.
Five more similar round tables will be organized in various regions of the world from now to December. The next one will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 3 September.
