The Swiss Postal Regulation Authority has given its seal of approval to the cabinet’s plans to open up the postal market. Post Reg says getting rid of Swiss Post’s monopoly will probably not result in cheaper services, but it says there will be some benefits. The Swiss government wants competitors to be allowed to deliver some letters from next April, with a complete market deregulation in three years’ time.
Read MoreThe Universal Postal Union is officially celebrating its 60th anniversary today as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Indeed, it was on 1 July 1948 that the UPU became a member of the United Nations Organization. Since then, our organization has contributed to worldwide efforts to improve communication between people, promote development, reduce poverty, improve health and access to education for all, and make our world more safe and stable, among many other things.
“Communication, which the UPU develops between peoples through the efficient operation of postal services as part of its mission, is at the heart of efforts to maintain peace, promote health and education and provide humanitarian aid where needed,” says UPU Director General Edouard Dayan. “In addition to its legal commitments under the agreement and its participation in UN conferences, the UPU has become involved in activities and specific projects to help achieve UN objectives, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also marked the anniversary during a visit to the UPU International Bureau in Berne, last 28 April. In a speech to staff, he said: “The UPU may be one of the smallest specialized agencies of the UN, “but its work is key to the broader mission of our Organization.”
2008 is an important year for the UPU, as the organization prepares for its 24th Universal Postal Congress, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 July to 12 August.
Read MorePostal Services in Europe 2006
Read MoreUlrich Gygi, CEO of Swiss Post will become president of board of directors for SBB in replaced of Thierry Lalive d’Epinay. The Board of directors of Swiss Post will be led by Claude R. Béglé.
Béglé has been Vice-President of the German post office Deutsche Post since 2007. He has been closely involved in the development of the European postal services market in various positions and postal service enterprises, including TNT Post Group and the French post office. Béglé will assume his duties on 1 April 2009 at the latest, when he will succeed Anton Menth, but will already join the board as a simple member on 1 October. Menth will reach the statutory maximum age of 70 for leaving the board in the summer of 2009.
Read MorePostFinance will be launching its Plus Set on 1 August 2008. Customers investing considerable funds will be rewarded with the opportunity to manage their account inexpensively or even completely free of charge. Using their PostFinance card, holders of a Plus Set will be able to withdraw cash free of charge from one million ATMs anywhere in the world. In the case of customers with lower product usage and fewer funds in their account, the fees will be passed on to the originator where appropriate. No price adjustments will be made to the Private, Youth and Student Sets, nor to the PostFinance Card. PostFinance remains one of the most cost-efficient financial institutions in Switzerland.
Private customers can manage their finances with PostFinance via a postal account or using one of four finance sets. These include a range of services: a payment transactions account and a savings account, PostFinance Card, optional online account management plus a host of other services. As part of their free set, young people and students will receive a selection of products to suit their needs. On 1 August 2008, PostFinance will be extending its range by launching the new Plus Set. It is ideal for active customers with substantial assets and includes the PostFinance Card, account statements, paper-based or electronic payment orders as well as standing orders. Thanks to the Plus Set, customers will be able to benefit from greater flexibility and additional services.
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