24th Universal Postal Congress opens for business in Geneva

The Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, officially opened the 24th Universal Postal Congress. The UPU is indeed giving the Congress a special African flavour because Kenya was unable to host the event owing to the unrest in the country at the beginning of this year.

Moreover, the UPU gives particular priority to the development of the postal sector in developing countries, especially in Africa, and this issue will be at the heart of numerous discussions during the Congress. In spite of great progress in developing the single postal territory since the creation of the UPU 134 years ago, there remain great differences between industrialized and developing countries in terms of quality of service, postal reform and the adoption of new technologies, declared Mr. Mudavadi, speaking before 1,500 delegates, among them about 70 ministers.

The Secretary General of the United Nations reminded delegates that postal services were universal, connecting people the world over. “The UPU makes a valuable contribution in many different areas, including migration and fund transfers, transport and trade, education and literacy, sustainable development, health and security, and standards to ensure compatibility and interconnectivity… Across the world, Posts provide a natural gateway to the information society,” declared Ban Ki-moon, in a message relayed by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva.

A Universal Postal Union more open to the world and to its environment is today welcoming a “united world postal community,” said Edouard Dayan, UPU Director General and Secretary General of Congress. “The postal sector is increasingly seen as not only driving economic development, but also offering countries a new possibility of access to the world economy by enabling them to join a universal network.”

The Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, officially opened the 24th Universal Postal Congress. The UPU is indeed giving the Congress a special African flavour because Kenya was unable to host the event owing to the unrest in the country at the beginning of this year.

Moreover, the UPU gives particular priority to the development of the postal sector in developing countries, especially in Africa, and this issue will be at the heart of numerous discussions during the Congress. In spite of great progress in developing the single postal territory since the creation of the UPU 134 years ago, there remain great differences between industrialized and developing countries in terms of quality of service, postal reform and the adoption of new technologies, declared Mr. Mudavadi, speaking before 1,500 delegates, among them about 70 ministers.

“We can never achieve a truly universal single postal territory as envisaged by the founding fathers of this Union, without strengthening the chain of the postal administrations of the developing countries,” said the Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister.

“The strength of a chain is always determined by its weakest link. We must seek ways and means to advance more resources and technical support for developing countries in order for them to adopt reforms and remain viable.” Kenya will still take the chairmanship of Congress, in the person of His Excellency Bishar A. Hussein, and will also chair the next UPU Council of Administration up to the following Congress in 2012.

In Africa, at least 12 pct of the population is without a postal service, and 66 pct of people have to visit a postal establishment to collect their mail, with only 22 pct receiving it at home (compared with a worldwide average of 81 pct). On the African continent more than anywhere else, whole sections of civil society, the public sector and financial services depend on the postal infrastructure.

The Secretary General of the United Nations reminded delegates that postal services were universal, connecting people the world over. “The UPU makes a valuable contribution in many different areas, including migration and fund transfers, transport and trade, education and literacy, sustainable development, health and security, and standards to ensure compatibility and interconnectivity… Across the world, Posts provide a natural gateway to the information society,” declared Ban Ki-moon, in a message relayed by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva.

A Universal Postal Union more open to the world and to its environment is today welcoming a “united world postal community,” said Edouard Dayan, UPU Director General and Secretary General of Congress. “The postal sector is increasingly seen as not only driving economic development, but also offering countries a new possibility of access to the world economy by enabling them to join a universal network.”

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