Cooperation agreement benefits the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa
The Association of Post Office and Telecommunications Operators from the Portuguese Speaking Countries and Territories (AICEP) and the Universal Postal Union signed a cooperation agreement today, at the start of the UPU Council of Administration plenary session in Berne. This agreement defines a package of assistance that will be given to Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, totalling 120,000 USD over two years.
It is the regional development plan (RDP), the cooperation tool developed by the UPU, which forms the basis of this aid project. Under the agreement, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Sao Tomé and Principe will obtain the electronic tools and know-how needed to put their postal services on the path towards lasting reform.
The introduction of continuous testing to help countries achieve the UPU’s J+5 standard for 65 pct of international mail, the creation of a database of mail collection and delivery points, accelerated introduction of IPS Light, the software solution for item tracking and information exchange, the implementation of an electronic money transfer network, and the holding of training workshops on cost accounting and postal operations, via the TRAINPOST programme, are some of the principal measures covered by the agreement signed today. Some of these activities have already been in progress since 2006.
“With this agreement, the UPU and the AICEP are underlining the importance of providing a funding framework to assist Posts whose resources are lacking. It is an example of cooperation that should be followed by the entire postal community, since it provides a perfect definition of concrete measures and a reasonable timeframe” says Manuel Frexes, Chairman of the AICEP.
