Israeli Postal Authority Encourages Competition

The Postal Authority is ready and eager for the government to open up mail services to competition from private companies, but only gradually, says authority chairman Yossi Shelli, commenting on the Treasury’s budget proposal that calls for turning the authority into a government company. Shelli said preparations are being made to next year create a government postal company that will be able to forge business partnerships and offer new services at postal branches, such as the purchase of savings plans, bank bonds, and insurance policies, as well as install cash machines. An independent consultant, he said, studied the matter and recommended to the Communications Ministry that the market be opened to competition gradually to allow the new government company to prepare itself.