Istanbul World Postal Strategy

Pending approval by member countries at Congress, the Istanbul World Postal Strategy is to be adopted as the UPU’s road map for the 2017-2020 work cycle. The strategy is centred on three goals:

Goal 1: Improve the interoperability of network infrastructure.

Goal 2: Ensure sustainable and modern products.

Goal 3: Foster effective market and sector functioning.

These goals evolved from discussions involving almost 90 per cent of the UPU’s 192 member countries. Some of the debates took place at a series of seven regional conferences in 2015, revealing common priorities among countries worldwide. E-commerce development and strengthening operational efficiency emerged as top-level priorities in all regions.

The strategy is also accompanied by a draft business plan, which links work proposals to expected outcomes and benefits for member countries. Fifteen programmes of activity have been developed to implement the strategic goals.

Global forces

The draft strategy is based on lessons from the current work cycle. This new digital age is characterized by disparities in socio-economic conditions. In this context, the UPU can help provide solutions geared towards social inclusion.

The UPU is also well-positioned to promote integration throughout the global postal network. Current activities are already helping the postal sector carry out its role as an essential component in the global economy.

With the rise of digital technologies and e-commerce, customers expect postal operators to modernize their services and improve quality, making innovation a necessity.

 

Vision 2020

The draft Istanbul World Postal Strategy is linked to a new vision for the postal sector. Known as Vision 2020, it reflects a postal world where:

  • Innovation is shared, promoted and driven – not as a luxury, but as a reality for all
  • Full integration of networks at the national, regional and global levels is a reality; and
  • The postal sector’s unique ability to include populations, economic actors and territories is fully recognized and exploited by governments, development partners and international organizations.