Tag: Switzerland

UPU on way to adopting a new Postal Payment Services Agreement

Posted by | Jul 25, 2008 | |

The UPU member countries attending 25th July afternoon’s Committee 6 meeting at the Universal Postal Congress agreed to continue their deliberations on the proposal for a new Postal Payment Services Agreement.

The new Agreement comes with a multilateral framework to facilitate the exchange of money transfers between postal operators, especially by electronic means.

As a result, the current international treaty will be greatly improved. Among other things, the document clearly defines the UPU’s postal payment services, while taking into account the principles of technological neutrality (enabling the interconnection of networks and systems), data confidentiality, the fight against money laundering, the secure handling and transmission of payment orders, consumer protection and the reliability of payments among operators.

Postal payments, a term used to define four kinds of exchanges (cash to cash, cash to account, account to cash and account to account), play an important social role in that they are more accessible and on offer to the public at large, without discrimination. After all, many people, including a large number of migrants, have no access to banking services. This gap is filled by the worldwide postal network, with more than 660,000 post offices, most them located in rural or remote areas.

Developing postal payment services via an electronic network has become a UPU priority. It is widely acknowledged that remittances sent by migrants contribute to development and poverty reduction. The assistance generated by these remittances outstrips State development aid and direct international investments combined, according to Edouard Dayan, Secretary General of the Congress.

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General debate sets tone for UPU Congress

Posted by | Jul 25, 2008 | |

Decision-makers from the international community today participated in a high-level general debate during the 24th Universal Postal Congress. Themed “The postal sector, an essential component of the global economy”, the debate gathered stakeholders from the larger postal sector.

The World Trade Organization stressed the crucial role infrastructures such as postal services play in international trade. For the International Monetary Fund, the postal sector has a considerable impact on the reduction of trade costs. For its part, the World Bank noted the importance of money transfer services for migrants, adding that postal operators were in a unique position to offer such services so essential to development. The Russian Post said postal networks could work with banks to offer additional services and increase their revenues.

eBay International noted the role of postal services in the distribution of millions of items bought online annually. However, many online shoppers still hesitate to order goods from abroad. Only 20 pct of goods purchased on eBay sites cross borders. Citing high shipment costs and a need for improved quality of service, eBay urged postal operators to find solutions to these issues.

The Tunisian Post showed how the Government has made postal services part of a national policy to promote the information society by using the Post as a trusted intermediary in the electronic world and as a facilitator of e-commerce. On a regional level, the African Union expressed its desire to integrate postal services in its regional infrastructure development plan, as it does with water, electricity, telecommunications and transportation.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) finally invited the postal sector to take part in a worldwide awareness campaign on environment challenges. Thanks to an agreement signed in April between the UPU and UNEP, postal operators will work together on greening the postal sector.

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SwissPostCertificate : The simple way to a secure digital identity

Posted by | Jul 24, 2008 | |

The SwissPostCertificate is available at over 2,400 post offices and can now be acquired more easily and at a more attractive introductory price. The SwissPostCertificate is a form of digital ID and can be likened to a passport or ID card for the digital world, enabling users to communicate confidentially. Swiss Post’s digital ID is now available at a more attractive introductory price and via a much simpler procedure. With the help of the new wizard, customers can now download the digital certificate for authentication, signing and encryption with just a few clicks of the mouse after completing the registration and identification procedure.
The personal identification (yellow identification) required for the SwissPostCertificate has been possible at all of the 2,400 Swiss post offices since April. Thanks to the new means of identification, which requires a notarially certified or legally attested copy of an identity document, the certificate can now be purchased worldwide. Registration is the key to secure identification as SwissPostCertificates are only issued once the registration documents and the customer’s identity have been carefully checked.
Another benefit is that the customer can now choose whether to pay for the SwissPostCertificate annually or for three years in advance. Furthermore, the introductory price for the various certificates has been reduced for natural persons. The cost for the first year was previously CHF 90 for the starter kit plus a minimum annual fee of CHF 35. Now, the entire package is available for under CHF 100. Anyone opting for the three-year deal will benefit from a discount. New Swiss customers needing to use the certificate immediately will be able to apply their digital signature in just 24 hours, thanks to the express order option.
1 CHF = 0.963112 USD

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The postal sector joins forces to manage its carbon footprint

Posted by | Jul 24, 2008 | |

PostEurop, a Restricted Union representing 48 European public postal operators, has teamed up with the UPU Sustainable Development Project Group to share the results of the work carried out within the framework of its greenhouse gas reduction programme.

A joint technical committee will be formed and tasked with establishing a series of measures to cut the CO2 emissions of the sector as a whole. This agreement between PostEurop and the UPU marks a milestone for the two organizations and fits within the broader framework of the partnership agreement for a more environmentally friendly postal sector concluded between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UPU in April 2008.

PostEurop’s Environment Working Group, which has launched a greenhouse gas reduction programme providing for a 10 pct reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2012, will share its best practices and initiatives in the areas of transport, building, product development and operator procurement policy. This agreement provides a basis for the actions of the technical committee.

Pierre MAWAS, Chairman of PostEurop’s Environment Working Group said: “A recognized CO2 measurement protocol is the first step of any effective carbon management policy. We strongly believe that collaboration on that level will show the commitment of the postal sector as a whole to take a common approach and integrate sustainability in the future of the business.”

Daniel LE GOFF, Stakeholder Relations Coordinator at the UPU, added: “Such a collaboration increases our chances of success in setting up the right carbon management programme for the postal sector as a whole. It also means that such important work can be carried out faster and more efficiently.”

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24th Universal Postal Congress opens for business in Geneva

Posted by | Jul 23, 2008 | |

The Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, officially opened the 24th Universal Postal Congress. The UPU is indeed giving the Congress a special African flavour because Kenya was unable to host the event owing to the unrest in the country at the beginning of this year.

Moreover, the UPU gives particular priority to the development of the postal sector in developing countries, especially in Africa, and this issue will be at the heart of numerous discussions during the Congress. In spite of great progress in developing the single postal territory since the creation of the UPU 134 years ago, there remain great differences between industrialized and developing countries in terms of quality of service, postal reform and the adoption of new technologies, declared Mr. Mudavadi, speaking before 1,500 delegates, among them about 70 ministers.

The Secretary General of the United Nations reminded delegates that postal services were universal, connecting people the world over. “The UPU makes a valuable contribution in many different areas, including migration and fund transfers, transport and trade, education and literacy, sustainable development, health and security, and standards to ensure compatibility and interconnectivity… Across the world, Posts provide a natural gateway to the information society,” declared Ban Ki-moon, in a message relayed by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva.

A Universal Postal Union more open to the world and to its environment is today welcoming a “united world postal community,” said Edouard Dayan, UPU Director General and Secretary General of Congress. “The postal sector is increasingly seen as not only driving economic development, but also offering countries a new possibility of access to the world economy by enabling them to join a universal network.”

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