Russian Post signs support deal with Bashkortostan government
Russian Post has signed an agreement with the regional government of Bashkortostan to partner on improving postal services in the Russian republic. The agreement signed by Russian Post’s deputy director general Igor Mandrykin and Bashkortostan prime minister Azamat Ilimbetov pledges to help save unprofitable post offices in the republic between the River Volga and the Ural Mountains.
It also pledges to support modernisation of the postal network within the republic, pushing for increased automation of processes and investment in IT systems.
Russian Post said the deal would see it providing more public and municipal services in electronic form through its infrastructure, improving access to services via post offices connected to the Internet.
The republic’s government will engage public authorities, local governments and municipal agencies throughout the region. From 1st July, the republic is beginning a programme of moving to digital government communications, and its government is hopeful that Russian Post will be an important part of the national initiative.
Signing the deal, Ilimbetov said Russian Post’s operations in the republic were one of its fastest growing divisions, and that the company was a “backbone” enterprise through which the state could implement its informational and economic development policies.
Mandrykin said Russian Post had a “huge” social responsibility and the support of regional authorities was very important to the company.
“Collaborating with the Administration of the Republic will enhance the quality and accessibility of postal services for the residents of Bashkortostan,” he said.
Post offices
As the agreement was signed with the government in Bashkortostan, Russian Post also reopened a post office in the republic’s capital, Ufa, which has been given a new business-oriented look.
The upgraded post office is part of a programme of retail branch improvements in 1,000 Russian post offices that have included seven so far in the Volga Federal District.
The new “business” format divides the post office into different zones, offering four postal counter windows along with a retail area and an Internet access zone, and also electronic kiosks.
Russian Post said the modernisation of its post offices was increasing their appeal among customers and promoting the postal brand, and research suggests can improve invome by 15-20%.
