The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has opened a public consultation on how it can improve its interactions with broader postal sector stakeholders, including the private sector.
The consultation will be conducted via questionnaires targeting not only UPU member governments but also other stakeholders such as designated postal operators, regulatory bodies, private-sector companies already engaged in the UPU’s Consultative Committee and wider postal-sector players who are not included within the UPU’s current governance structure.
The questionnaires are intended to allow wider postal-sector players to share perspectives on how they currently interface with the UPU, provide suggestions on how they might be more involved in UPU decision-making processes and identify those UPU products and services that could benefit not only them but citizens and the postal sector as a whole. These inputs are expected to help the UPU determine how these stakeholders might be engaged more formally in its work. Interested parties are to submit their views to the UPU by August 26. Wider postal-sector players include private companies and partner organizations, such as e-retailers, courier companies, logistics service providers, financial service providers, airlines, railways and other transport companies, customs organizations, manufacturers of postal and postal-industry-related solutions, customer associations, unions and postal worker associations.
Masahiko Metoki, director general of the UPU, said, “UPU member countries have recognized that building a sustainable and inclusive postal network for communities and businesses worldwide requires collaboration with all parties. Work to prepare for next year’s Extraordinary Congress, where UPU member countries will decide on opening up to other players in the sector, is at a critical stage. It is vital that we hear from all stakeholders in the wider sector to ensure that we understand their interests and priorities, so as to identify the ‘win-win’ scenario that will benefit all players in the postal value chain. We hope this consultation will help us define the scope of that collaboration and we encourage our members, partners and other players with a stake in the post to help us shape the sector’s future.”