UPU congress to discuss “enhancing its cooperation with wider postal sector players”

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the United Nations specialized agency responsible for leading the development, regulation, interoperability and sustainability of the international postal network – opened its fourth Extraordinary Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 1 October.

The Extraordinary Congress, which is a plenipotentiary meeting of the UPU’s 192 member countries, will decide on several key proposals aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for international postal services.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for offering to host this Congress, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and all those involved,” said UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki.

“I believe that the proposals before the Extraordinary Congress this week address the views of the majority of Union member countries. It is my sincere hope that, in the spirit of the UPU’s traditional value of compromise, we can all find common ground to approve these proposals here in Riyadh,” he said.

In his opening speech, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Saudi Post Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser emphasized what the Extraordinary Congress represented for the country.

“The hosting of the fourth Extraordinary Congress by Saudi Arabia signifies our commitment to strengthen collaboration among member states, develop delivering postal services, promote e-commerce, stimulate the digital economy, and incorporate cutting-edge technologies into their postal and logistical operations,” he said.

Global postal evolution

One of the principal topics being discussed during the Extraordinary Congress is how the organization might enhance its cooperation with wider postal sector players (WPSPs), which include private companies and partner organizations outside of the UPU’s network of government-designated postal operators. Proposals being reviewed at the Extraordinary Congress strive to find ways in which WPSPs could be better included in the UPU context to ensure a truly universal, efficient service through the UPU network.

Member countries will also review the organization’s approach to the development of postal financial services. Those proposals seek to overcome challenges associated with rapid market changes, and to expand Posts’ role in fostering global financial inclusion for more than a billion people who remain unbanked.

The Extraordinary Congress will also build upon a 2021 UPU Congress resolution focused on climate action by the postal sector. Member countries will review proposals for voluntary emissions-reduction targets and climate action pledges, capacity-building initiatives, and opportunities to collaborate with WPSPs on climate initiatives.

High-level presence

Ministers, heads of postal regulators and postal CEOs will take the opportunity of the Riyadh meeting to discuss the UPU’s future strategy for 2026–2029 during the UPU Strategy Summit on 4 and 5 October.

For more information about the Extraordinary Congress and the topics being discussed, visit: www.upu.int/en/congress.