Message from the UPU Director General

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 26th Universal Postal Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, from 20 September to 7 October 2016.

Hosted by the Republic of Turkey, this landmark event brings together representatives of governments, designated operators, regulators and restricted unions of UPU member countries, as well as heads of UN and other international organizations.

The 26th Congress promises to be a turning point for the Post and for our Union. In this fast-changing environment, we have to quickly set the scene for the future of our organization.

Indeed, rapidly changing technologies have created new market realities, which in turn are driving alternative service options and a whole new set of customer expectations. The Post and the UPU are in the spotlight: they must now, more than ever, evolve to remain relevant.  

In this new postal environment, and considering the challenges that the Post face,  it is now up to the Istanbul Congress to conclusively address the transformation of the postal sector, so that it remains at the heart of the global economy. Guided by Vision 2020 – built on the pillars of Innovation, Integration and Inclusion – the Istanbul cycle will no doubt be marked by this transformation dynamic.

The UPU continues be a natural partner to governments to meet development objectives. In this context, the 2016 UPU Ministerial Conference on 4 October will examine the substantial contribution of the UPU and the postal sector to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We live in exciting times: e-commerce and financial services represent major opportunities for growth.

Let’s get to work, so that we can deliver the best results, together!

I wish you a very successful Congress.

 

Bishar A. Hussein