BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: The 25th Universal Postal Congress yesterday formally approved the Doha Postal Strategy, a four-year roadmap for the postal sector to be adopted by 192 Universal Postal Union member countries.
Terry Dunn, General Manager of Canada Post and former Chair of UPU strategy committee, said the Strategy had undergone a series of stages including consultations with stakeholders in member countries and a thorough analysis of various elements of the changing global landscape.
“We engaged member countries through seven regional roundtables. We analysed the political, economic, social, legal, technological and environmental issues to draw a picture of the changing global environment that could significantly impact the global postal sector,” explained Dunn during a press conference yesterday.
The context analysis also highlighted five postal trends including changes in mail volumes, changes in postal markets, diversification to respond to customer needs, innovation and environmental issues.
With the decline in mail volume, postal operators are shifting focus on diversification of services and more concentration on parcel delivery among others.
“Diversification is very important as business model is changing and diversification is a strategic decision every postal operator must make,” he said, adding though there is decline in letter posts people still send message through electronic means.
“The medium has changed but the same fundamental values such as trust and security remain,” he said. The Doha Postal Strategy contains four broad goals, which are further developed into 18 programmes dealing with specific issues. The main goals focus along four key priorities on enhancing quality of services globally, providing technical knowledge and expertise, promoting innovative products and services and fostering sustainable development in the sector.
Although global in nature, the Strategy also recognises the differences on specific concerns and priorities of each member country but most important is the Strategy is adopted as a guide, said Dunn. “The Doha Postal Strategy provides the tools for individual postal operators of UPU member countries,” he said.
Rhéal LeBlanc, Chief of Communications, Universal Postal Union, was also present at the press conference.
The Peninsula
