Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom will host the Fourth Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the United Nations specialized agency responsible for leading the development, regulation, interoperability, and sustainability of the international postal network – in Riyadh from October 1 to October 5, 2023.
Congress is the supreme decision-making body of the UPU, convening plenipotentiaries from the organization’s 192 member countries every four years. An Extraordinary Congress is convened at the request of member countries when there are urgent postal sector issues pending decisions that cannot wait until the next quadrennial meeting. During the Fourth Extraordinary Congress, UPU member countries will discuss opening the Union to wider postal sector players, as well as planning a path forward on climate action in the sector, the future of postal financial services, and other urgent sectoral matters.
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The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, The Chairman of SPL Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz for magnanimously sponsoring the Fourth Extraordinary Conference of the Universal Postal Union. He acknowledged the indispensable support of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in realizing the development and service projects of the transportation and logistics services system, which are in line with the ambitious goals of the national strategy for transportation and logistics services under Vision 2030.
The Kingdom’s hosting of the conference highlights its unparalleled global status and influence in international organizations. Eng. Al-Jasser underlined the critical importance of member states of the Universal Postal Union collaborating to establish standards for delivering postal services, boosting electronic commerce, and stimulating the economy. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence to advance services for the beneficiaries, the Kingdom strives to cement its place as a worldwide logistics hub and a paradigm for a seamless transportation system that connects the world’s continents.
The Kingdom won the right to host the conference through the votes of the member states of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) during the October 2022 plenary meeting of the UPU‘s Council of Administration.
The hosting of the conference represents a national achievement that underscores the Kingdom’s active role in international organizations and its contributions to enhancing cooperation among member states in developing postal services, ambitious initiatives, and future projects in line with Saudi Vision 2030. This event makes Saudi Arabia the third Arab country to host a UPU Congress. The Kingdom, in pursuit of its ambitious Vision 2030, is keen on showcasing its influential role across various domains, as well as its targets and initiatives in developing the postal and logistics sector following the National Transport and Logistics Service’s Strategy.
This opportunity serves to demonstrate its advanced capabilities in hosting such conferences with high professionalism and precise organization, while also portraying a positive image of its rich land, historical heritage, and hospitable people.
On his part, UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s generosity in hosting the global postal community, including Ministers, CEOs of postal operators, and partners of the postal sector, as well as UPU secretariat staff.
‘This Extraordinary Congress comes at a pivotal moment for the UPU when the organization is engaged in building new partnerships and bridges with all segments of the postal sector at large. The proposals being examined at this Congress strive to guarantee that postal services around the globe meet the needs and expectations of all people and businesses in an ever-changing environment while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future,’ said the UPU Director General.
Source: Saudi Press Agency