Russian govt approves plan for Postal Service development
The Russian government approved a plan for developing the country’s postal service Tuesday, Russia’s Communications and IT Ministry said.
The government required the Communications and IT Ministry to present a detailed version of the concept as well as a plan for its implementation by September 1.
The government also required the Tax Ministry, in cooperation with Finance and Communications and IT Ministries, to develop a system of collecting taxes and other payments via the network of post offices. This system should take into account the fact that with over 40,000 offices the postal service has the largest network among all Russian state institutions.
The plan aims to develop the infrastructure of the postal service and promote competition in postal services, which are expected to increase the volume of the postal services market by about 150% by 2010.
Communications and IT Minister Leonid Reiman said: “the implementation of the measures outlined in the concept will allow the postal services market to reach the standards common for the member countries of the Universal Postal Union.”
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in 1874 and unifies 189 member countries.
The organization fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and renders technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail volumes and to improve the quality of service for customers.
Russia has been an UPU member since 1875.
