2025年春季联合邮品 THE ROAD TO DUBAI 2025

MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875|SPRING2025

THEROAD

TODUBAI2025

UPUMEDIAZONE

“VoiceMail”offerspostalstoriesfrom

aroundtheworld.Experiencedpodcast

hostIanKerr–thefounderofPostal

HubPodcast–speakstothepeoplewhodeliverthemail,thedecisionmakersthatinfluencethesector,andthosewhowork

sohardbehindthescenestohelpthingsmovefromAtoB.

Listenandsubscribeonyourfavourite

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“DigitalUnion”istheUniversalPostal

Union’smonthlynewsletterproviding

newsandinformationontheactivitiesoftheUNspecializedagencyresponsible

forpostalmatters.

Subscribetostayupdatedonthelatestpostaldevelopments:

/en/

News-Media/Newsletter

TheUPU’sblog“PostalMatters”offersfresh

insightsintotheinternationalpostalsector,aswellasitstechnologicaladvancesandlatest

innovations.Postaloperatorsandotherpostalsectorplayersarewelcometosendustheir

contributionscontainingreflections,viewsandperspectivesonthepostalfuture,e-commerce,sustainabledevelopment,financialinclusion

andotherrelatedareas.

Checkoutthelatestarticles:

https://www.upu

.int/en/News-Media/Blog

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communication@

STRATEGYPILLAR1

STRATEGYPILLAR2

STRATEGYPILLAR3

FOREWORD

6

Drivingthefuturefrom150yearsofprogresstoCongress2025

7

EDITOR’SNOTE

NextStop:Dubai2025

8

UPUAT150

UPUminesexpansive

archives‒InterviewwithVincentSchicker

33

SPEAKERS’CORNER

FROMTHEEMIRATESTOTHEWORLD:THEUAESHARESITSVISIONFORADIGITALAND

SUSTAINABLEPOSTALFUTURE

AstheUnitedArabEmiratesgearsuptohostthe

UPU’s28thUniversalPostalCongressinDubai,itisalsomakingstridesinpositioningitselfasaglobalhubfortrade,e-commerce,anddigitalinnovation.

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SOLUTIONSPOTLIGHT

NewCDSintegrations

withZonosandHurricane

39

MARKETFOCUS

Beyondthemail:how

PHLPostbecamealifelineduringtyphoonsCarina

andKristine

42

MARKETFOCUS

Post4Health:

deliveringhealthcare

44

DIGEST

22BRODYBUHLERTALKSFUTURE

UPUKNOWLEDGECENTRE

ALIGNINGPOSTALSTRATEGIES

WITHGLOBALGOALS

Inaneramarkedbyrisingglobalchallenges‒fromclimatechangeandinequalitytodigitaldividesandfragileeconomies‒theimportanceofcoordinated,purposefulactionhasneverbeengreater.

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MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875

CONTENTS

COVERSTORY

THEROAD

UNIONPOSTALEistheUniversalPostalUnion’sflagshipmagazine,foundedin

1875.Itispublishedquarterlyinfour

languagesandtakesacloserlookat

UPUactivities,featuringinternational

newsanddevelopmentsfromthepostalsector.

Themagazineregularlypublisheswellresearchedarticlesontopicalissues

facingtheindustry,aswellasinterviewswiththesector’sleadingindividuals.

ItisdistributedwidelytotheUPU’s

192membercountries,including

thousandsofdecision-makersfrom

governmentsandPosts,aswellasotherpostalstakeholders.AllregarditasanimportantsourceofinformationabouttheUPUandthepostalsectoratlarge.

UNIONPOSTALEisalsopublished

inFrench,Spanish,Arabic,andChinese.

TheUniversalPostalUnionneither

endorsesanyproductsorservices

offeredbythird-partyadvertisersnorguaranteestheveracityofanyclaims

madebythesame.OpinionsexpressedinthearticlesarenotnecessarilythoseoftheUPU.

Itisexpresslyforbiddentoreproduce

anypartofUNIONPOSTALEmagazine(includingtext,imagesorillustrations)

withoutpriorpermission.

SPRING2025

Referstotheseasonin

thecountryofpublication.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

YanaBrugier(YB)

AUTHORS:MakikoHayashi(MH),LinLiu(LL),FabienneBlaser,(FB),IhabZaghloul(IZ),AkshayaShivkumar(AS),Benjamin

Combes(BC),KaylaRedstone(KR),TitaniJosephMkanalumo(TJM),HelenNorman(HN)andTaraGiroud(TG)

DESIGNANDLAYOUT:

TODUBAI2025

AstheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)movestowardsits28thUniversalCongressin

Dubai,itdoessoatadefiningmomentinits150-yearhistory.Theyear2024markedamilestonefortheUPUasitcelebratedacenturyandahalfofenablingglobal

communicationandempoweringpeopleacrossnations.Now,withitssightssetonDubai2025,theUPUisnotjustreflectingonitspast–itstandsatapivotaljuncture.

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UPUKNOWLEDGECENTRE

UPURESEARCHHIGHLIGHTS

POTENTIALOFPOST-FINTECHPARTNERSHIPSTOOVERCOMEGENDERINEQUALITY

30

UPUAWARDS

UPUCOMPETITIONCLASS2024:WHEREINNOVATIONMEETSTRADITIONFORMEMBERSOFTHEWORLD

ASSOCIATIONFORTHEDEVELOPMENTOFPHILATELY

37

SonjaDenovski

PRINTING:UPUPrintShopSUBSCRIPTIONS:

publications@

ADVERTISING:

communication@

COVERPHOTO:SonjaDenovski

CONTACT:

UNIONPOSTALE

InternationalBureau

UniversalPostalUnion

3015BERNE

SWITZERLAND

PHONE:+41313503111

E-MAIL:communication@WEBSITE:

/en/News-Media

MARKETFOCUS

POST4HEALTH:DELIVERING

HEALTHCARE

52

TheCOVID-19pandemicexposedvulnerabilitiesinhealthcarelogistics,includingsocialisolationandvaccineaccessibility

gaps.ThroughtheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)Post4Healthproject,Postsextendedtheirscopebeyondmaildeliverytobridgelogisticalgapsandimprovehealthcareaccessibility

forthreebillionpeopleinremoteareas.

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UNIONPOSTALE|SPRING2025

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MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875

DIRECTORGENERAL’SFOREWORD

DRIVINGTHEFUTUREFROM150YEARSOFPROGRESSTOCONGRESS2025

DRIVINGTHEFUTUREFROM150YEARSOFPROGRESSTOCONGRESS2025

“ThepathtoDubai2025isaboutmorethan

strategyandpolicy.

Guidedbythevoicesof

allmembercountries,

ourcollectiveresolvewillenableustochartafuturewherepostalservices

remainacornerstoneofglobaldevelopment.”

MasahikoMetoki

DirectorGeneral,UPU

financialsustainabilityandtheexpansion

ofe-commercecapabilities.Byfostering

interoperability,enhancingdigitalplatformsandsupportingregionalpostalhubs,

weaimtomakepostalservicesmore

accessible,efficientandcompetitiveintheglobalmarket.Theseeffortsarecrucial

tomaintainingpostalservicesasdriversofeconomicgrowthandsocialinclusion,particularlyinunderservedregions.

Additionally,theUPUGlobalLeaders

Summitwillbeasignificantplatformfor

dialogue,bringingtogetherindustry

pioneersandpolicymakerstoalignprioritiesandforgenewpartnerships.Thissummit

willhelptoensurethatpostalservicesremainintegraltoglobaltrade,digitaltransformationandfinancialinclusion.

ThepathtoDubai2025isaboutmorethanstrategyandpolicy.Guidedby

thevoicesofallmembercountries,ourcollectiveresolvewillenableustochartafuturewherepostalservicesremainacornerstoneofglobaldevelopment.

Iinviteallstakeholderstoparticipate,

contributetheirinsightsandshapethis

newchapter.ThedecisionsmadeinDubaiwilldefinethenextcycleandthelong-

termtrajectoryofthepostalsector.AswegatherinDubai,withthesteadfastsupportofourhostcountry,theUnitedArabEmirates,letusdriveprogressandbuildafuturewherepostalservices

remainvital,innovativeandinclusive.

MasahikoMetoki

DirectorGeneral,UPU

AstheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)

embarksonthejourneytowardsits28th

CongressinDubai(UnitedArabEmirates),westandatamomentofbothreflection

andtransformation.OurrecentcelebrationoftheUPU’s150thanniversaryreminded

usofourrichlegacy–150yearsofenablingcommunicationandempoweringpeoplesacrossnations.Yet,evenaswehonourthismilestone,ourfocusisfirmlyonthefuture.

InSeptember2025,delegatesfrom192

membercountrieswillgatherinDubai–a

citysynonymouswithinnovationandglobalconnectivity.Postaloperatorsworldwide

arenavigatingcomplexchallenges,

fromrapiddigitalizationandevolving

customerexpectationstosustainability

imperativesandregulatorycomplexities.Ourstrengthliesinourabilitytoadaptandinnovate.TheDubaiCongresswillbean

opportunitytoaddressthesechallengesandseizeopportunitiesthroughstrategiccollaborationandbolddecisionmaking.

CentraltotheDubaiCongresswillbethe

endorsementoftheUPUstrategyfor2026–2029,layingthegroundworkforaresilient,efficientandinclusivepostalecosystemthatmeetstheevolvingneedsofourincreasinglydigitalworld.Thestrategyfocusesonthreekeypillars:modernizingtheregulatory

frameworkforseamlessglobaloperations,embracingtechnologicalinnovationto

enhanceservicedelivery,andpromotinginclusivedevelopmentthroughcapacity-buildingandcooperation.Sustainability

willbeacross-cuttingpriority,aligningourgrowthwithenvironmentalstewardship.

MasahikoMetoki

Follow

Togetherwiththestrategy,theDubaiBusinessPlanoutlinesactionablestepstotransformpostalservices.Prioritiesincluderegulatorymodernization,

@UPU_DG

AstheUPUmovesfromcelebratingits150-year

anniversary,thiseditionofUnionPostaletakesa

forward-lookingapproach,settingthestageforthe

NEXTSTOP:DUBAI2025

EDITOR’SNOTE

28thUniversalPostalCongresshappeninginDubainextSeptember.

Inourcoverstory,TheRoadtoDubai2025,we

explorehowtheUPUispreparingfortheCongress,wheredecisionswillbemadetoguidetheglobal

postalsector’stransformation.Complementing

this,anexclusiveinterviewwithAbdullaAlashram,DeputyChairoftheCongressOrganizing

Committee,discussesthenation’sboldvisiononhowtheupcomingUPUCongresscandrive

industry-wideinnovation.

Innovationremainsakeythemeinthisedition,withadeepdiveintothepotentialofpost-fintech

partnershipstobridgegenderinequality,aswellasanupdateonthenewCDSintegrationthatwillhelppostaloperatorscomplywithnewElectronic

AdvancedDataregulations.Wealsocontinuedexploringthefutureofthepostalsectorwith

Escher’sCEO,BrodyBuhler,whounveiledsomesurprisinginsightsfromtheir2024FutureofthePostsreport.

Tobalanceinnovationwithhistory,aspecialfeatureontheUPU’sarchivesrevealshiddengemsfromthepast,whilethe2025UPUcompetitionclassmergesartwithhistory,celebratingcreativeexpressionin

thepostalworld.

Thisissuealsoshinesalightontheessentialrole

thatthepostalsectorcanplaytosupport

sustainabledevelopmentgoals,fromPHLPost’s

disasterreliefeffortsafterTyphoonstothe

Post4Healthinitiative,tosupportpostaloperatorstoenhancedeliveryofvaccinesandmedicationsinremoteareas.

WithCongress2025onthehorizon,thisedition

offersaglimpseintotheideasandinitiatives

shapingthenextchapteroftheglobalpostalsector.Happyreading!

YANABRUGIEREditor-in-chief

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MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875

UPUAT150

UPUMINESEXPANSIVEARCHIVES—INTERVIEWWITHVINCENTSCHICKER

UPUMINESEXPANSIVE

ARCHIVES-INTERVIEWWITHVINCENTSCHICKER

InterviewbyTARAGIROUD

Imagesoftrucksandtrainsfromabygoneeraflashinblackandwhiteonthescreen.Shakyvideoreelsshowworkers

climbingmountainsandcrossingterraininsnowmobiles—allofthisinservicetoonemissionthatbeganmorethan150yearsago:delivercommunicationsacrossborderstothe

farthestreachesoftheglobe.

Theseimageswereamongarchivalmaterialbrought

togetherinathree-minutehistoricalvideotocommemoratetheUniversalPostalUnion’s150thanniversary.ThisjourneythroughpostalhistorywasdesignedbyVincentSchicker,aMaster’sCandidateinHistoryattheUniversityofFribourg,

whocompleteda6-weekinternshipfortheUPUin2024.Schickerwastaskedwithdraftingascriptandselecting

archivalmediafortheUPUvideo.Itwasaninternshipthatconnectedwithhisinterestsandideals.

“Ialwaysfoundquitefascinatinghowpostalserviceswereoneofthebigelementsinbringingpeopletogether,

throughnewcommunicationsandnewinventions,”said

Schicker,who,asachildamassedhisown12-volumestampcollection.

Asahistorianandresearcher,theinternshipallowedhimtohighlightthisroleofpostalserviceforothers.

“Theideaoftransmittinghistoricalknowledgeandmakingitaccessibletothegreateraudience,that’ssomethingthat’sinterestingtome,”hesaid.

SchickersearchedarchivalmaterialsattheUPUheadquartersinBerne,includingdocuments,photographs,andmovie

reels,whereheunearthedawealthofhistoricalartefacts.

Amongthosewerenearly1,000moviereels.Heviewed

approximately50ofthem,includingpromotionalmovies,

trainingvideos,andhistoricalfilmsdocumentingcongressesdatingbacktotheStockholmCongressin1924,theoldest

reelhefound.

Alsoamongthearchiveswereinnumerablephotographs.Schickerwasabletotracetheluxuryoffilm’spresenceat

UPUMINESEXPANSIVEARCHIVES—INTERVIEWWITHVINCENTSCHICKERUPUAT150

UPUcongresses.EarlierUPUcongressesproducedonlyafewdozenphotos.Thevolumeofphotographsincreasedthroughthe1990switheachcongressdocumentedin

hundredsuponhundredsofimages.Then,inthe2000s,whendigitalphotographyreigned,Schickerstruggledtoaccessarchivesbecausedigitalfileswerestoredinvariousplaces,notallofthemknown.

Thearchivalmaterialstoldrichandvariedstories.Insome,thedangersfacedbypostalworkerswerehighlighted.Forexample,hesawtrainingvideosfordeliverypersonnelin

theUnitedStatesofAmericathatinstructedmailcarriersonhowtoremainsafewhenmeetingdogsontheirroutes.InaBelgianPostalServicemovie,driversofarmouredtruckswereinstructedonhowtorespondwhenbeingchased

duringanattemptedrobbery.

Moviereelsalsonarratedtheadvancementsin

technologiesthathelpedthepostalsectordelivermail

andpackagesfartherandfaster.Oneofthebiggest

transportationchangesevidentinthearchiveswasthe

introductionofairmail,Schickersaid.Thesefilmsnotonlyshowedairmailroutesorpromotedservicesbutprovidedsafetyinstructionsforlandinginbadweather.

partoftheUPU’sundergroundlevels.Thentheprojector’s

lightbulb,anoldhalogenmodel,neededreplacing.Anew

onewaslocatedinyetanotherpartofthebasement,hesaid,sittingbetweentwopiecesofcameraequipment.Next,thedriverbeltofthemotorgaveout,requiringanewonetobeorderedfromtheNetherlands.Whileeachofthefixesand

findsseemedtoworkforawhile,bytheendoftheinternshipSchickercouldonlyusetheprojectifhecrankeditbyhand

“likeanoldcar,”hesaid,whichwasnotwithoutitsownrisks.“Ikeptafireextinguishernexttomeincasesomethingwentwrong.”

Despitethesehurdles,whicharecommoninarchivalwork,Schickersaid,hemanagedtoviewanddigitizesomeofthereels,preservingtheirhistoricalvalueforfuturegenerations.Thisdigitizationprocessisurgent,hestressed,assomereelsareshowingsignsofdegradation,emittingavinegar-like

smell.

“Onceit’sstarted,there’snothingwecandoexceptmaybeputtheminafreezer,”hesaid.

SchickeralsocreatedfourshowcasesofUPUhistory,locatedinitsheadquarters:“Airmail”:showcasingoldairmail

routemaps,aswellasstampsrelatingtothetheme;“UPU

“Ialwaysfoundquitefascinatinghowpostalserviceswereoneofthebigelementsin

bringingpeopletogether,throughnewcommunicationsandnewinventions.”

Monuments”:rejectedcandidaciesforthecurrentUPU

MonumentinBern;“TributetotheUPUstaff”:documents

usedorproducedbytheUPUcentralservices,including

telegraphiccodes,vocabularyfortranslators,reels,andmostnotably,in-depthstatisticsconcerningalltheUPUmembersdatingbacktoitsfoundation;“ServicesoftheUPU”:lesser-

knownservices,suchaspostalchequesandpostalidentitycards.

VincentSchicker,Master’sCandidateinHistory,UniversityofFribourg

HecouldnothavecompletedtheprojectwithoutthehelpofUPUstaff,JohnStevensonandMikeLaheyne,fortheir

“Acivilianplanecouldn’tlandiftheydidn’tseeafew

hundredmetresinfrontofthem,”Schickerexplained,

“butairmailrouteshadspecialprocedurestolandby

instrumentsifvisibilitywasmuchmorereduced.That’showvitalitwasthattheycoulddeliverthemail.”

Historicalandtechnologicalprogressinpostalservices

couldbeseeninarchivalimagesofnewtelephoneservices,thenintothedigitalagewithcomputersandthefirstboothsforinterpretersatCongresses.

invaluablehelpingettingtheprojectorrunningandhelpinghimlocatevaluableitems,aswellasSolangeAvila,thenowretiredlibrarian.

Nowin2025,withSchicker’sinternshipcompleted,the

archivalsearchwrappedup,andthehistoricalvideoreleasedtothepublic,SchickersaidthebasementlevelsoftheUPU

stillhavestoriestotell.Therearemyriaddocumentsto

examine,reelstoviewandstudyanddigitizebeforethey

arelosttodecomposition,digitalfilesthathavenotbeen

accessed,andevenastashofundevelopedrollsoffilmthathaveyettobeviewed.TG

“Youcouldseepicturesofthesecretariesandtheofficers

Thehistoricalvideocanbewatchedhere:

/

watch?v=M6cURuZkJ7k&t

whoareinchargeofgatheringallthedocumentsinallthelanguages,”Schickersaid.“Thenthedigitalagecameinandnowit’smostlyemailsandPDFs.”

Thearchivalsearchwasnotwithoutchallenges.Schicker’smainstruggleinvolvedanoldprojectorrequiredtoview

themoviereels.TheUPU’sprojectorwasmissingitspowerbank.Heeventuallystumbleduponitbychanceinanother

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UNIONPOSTALE|SPRING2025

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MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875

SPEAKERS’CORNER

VOICESFROMTHEPOSTALSECTORANDBEYOND

VOICESFROMTHEPOSTALSECTORANDBEYOND

FROMTHEEMIRATESTOTHEWORLD:THEUAESHARESITSVISIONFORADIGITALAND

SUSTAINABLEPOSTALFUTURE

AstheUnitedArabEmiratesgearsuptohosttheUPU’s28thUniversalPostalCongressinDubai,itis

alsomakingstridesinpositioningitselfasaglobalhubfortrade,

e-commerce,anddigitalinnovation.

InaninterviewwithUnionPostale,

AbdullaMohammedAlashram,DeputyChairoftheCongressorganizing

committeeandarepresentativeofUAE’s7X,discussesthenation’sboldvisionforleveragingtechnologyinreshapingpostaloperations,and

howcollaboration,facilitatedbytheupcomingUPUCongress,candriveindustry-wideinnovation.

InterviewbyKAYLAREDSTONE

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UNIONPOSTALE|SPRING2025

FROMTHEEMIRATESTOTHEWORLD:THEUAESHARESITSVISIONFORADIGITALANDSUSTAINABLEPOSTALFUTURE

INTERVIEW

PostalservicesintheUnitedArabEmirates(UAE)haveundergoneastrategictransformationtoreflectthe

country’sexpandedambitionofdigitaltransformationandbecomingaglobaltradepowerhouse.

“TheUAE’scommitmenttodigitaltransformationisdeeplyrootedinitsambitiontobeagloballeaderinconnectivity,trade,andinnovation,asoutlined

in‘WetheUAE2031’,”explainsAlashram.“The

postalsectorhasbeenakeybeneficiaryofthis

vision,leveragingAI,blockchain,andautomationtoenhanceefficiency,security,andtransparency.”

HehighlightsthatbeingreadytoembracetheopportunitiesofemergingtechnologieswillhelpstrengthenUAE’ssupplychains,reduceinternationaltradebarriersandsupport

localbusinessesenteringtheglobalmarket.Inthepast

severalyears,theUAEhasstreamlinedlogistics,improvedlast-miledeliveryandsecuredcross-bordere-commercetransactionsthroughtheimplementationofAI,blockchainandothercutting-edgetechnologies,fromenhancing

routeplanning,reducingtransittimes,andoptimising

mailandparcelhandling,tominimizingmanualerrorsbyimplementingdigitaldocumentationsystemsthatenablefasterprocessingandreducedpaperworkinaccuracies.

“Theseimprovementsalsotieinwiththenation’sbroaderpushforaknowledge-based,sustainableeconomy,whereinnovativesolutionsandsmartinfrastructureplayapivotalroleinenhancingcompetitiveness,”saysAlashram.

“Thesuccessfuladoptionoftechnology inthepostalsectorrequiresacareful balancebetweeninnovationandregulatoryframeworks.Itisnotenough toimplementcutting-edgesolutions; theymustbeintegratedinawaythatensuresaccessibility,interoperability,andlong-termsustainability.”

AbdullaMohammedAlashram

DeputyChairoftheCongressorganizingcommitteeandarepresentativeofUAE’s7X

Enablinginnovation

Thisnationalapproachtotransformationhascreatedahospitableregulatoryenvironmentforpostal

innovation,overcomingacommonlycitedbarrierbypostaloperatorsseekingtokeeppacewithevolving

technology.Alashramcreditsstrongcollaboration

betweenpostaloperators,regulators,andtechnologyprovidersforenablingrapidprogress,whileensuringthatnooneisleftbehindasthepostaloperator

upholdsitsroleasauniversalserviceprovider.

“Oneofthekeylessonslearnedisthatdigitaltransformationmustbeanenablerratherthanadisruptor,”saysAlashram.

“Thesuccessfuladoptionoftechnologyinthe

postalsectorrequiresacarefulbalancebetween

innovationandregulatoryframeworks.Itisnot

enoughtoimplementcutting-edgesolutions;they

mustbeintegratedinawaythatensuresaccessibility,interoperability,andlong-termsustainability,”headds.

“Throughstrongcollaborationbetweenpostal

operators,regulatorybodies,andtechnology

providers,theUAEhasbeenabletodevelopsolutionsthatenhanceservicequalitywhilekeepingpacewithevolvingglobaltradeandcommunicationneeds.”

Protectingpeople,postandplanet

Aspostalinfrastructurechanges,soshouldapproachestoprotectingcustomersandtheplanet.

Globalpostalindustryshiftstowarddigitizationhave

thrustcybersecuritytotheforefrontasatoppriority.

TheUAEhastakenmeasurestosafeguarddigital

transactionsandcriticalinfrastructure,therebymaintainingtrustine-commerceandcross-bordertrade.

“Aproactiveapproachtocybersecurityhasbeen

adopted,focusingonstrengtheningdigitalidentityverification,enhancingdataprotectionframeworks,andcollaboratingwithglobalpostalpartnersand

organizationsliketheUPU,”saysAlashram.

Hehighlightsseveralmeasuresthecountryhasadopted

tosecureitsnetworkandfostercustomerconfidencein

cross-bordere-commerceservices.Sofar,theUAEhas

implementedblockchaintechnology,introducedAI-drivenfrauddetection,andadherestointernationalsecurity

standardstoprotectthepostalserviceanditsusers.

SustainabilityisanotherintegralpartoftheUAE’seconomicagenda,withambitioustargetstoachievecarbonneutrality.Thepostalsectorplaysacriticalroleinadvancingthese

objectivesbyreducingcarbonemissions,improvingenergyefficiency,andintegratingenvironmentallyresponsiblesolutionsintologisticsoperations.

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MOVINGTHEPOSTALSECTORFORWARDSINCE1875

SPEAKERS’CORNERVOICESFROMTHEPOSTALSECTORANDBEYOND

“SustainabilityisacornerstoneoftheUAE’slong-term

economicanddevelopmentstrategy,”statesAlashram.“Thefocusisonreducingcarbonemissions,enhancingenergy

efficiency,andintegratingenvironmentallyresponsiblesolutionsintoeverystageofthepostalsupplychain.”

TheUAEhasalreadyadoptedelectricandalternativefueldeliveryvehicles,implementedsmartlogisticssolutionstooptimizeroutesandminimizeemissions,andisusingsustainablepackagingmaterialstoreducewaste.

“Byembeddingenvironmentalresponsibilityintoitslogisticsinfrastructure,theUAEisreinforcingitspositionasagloballeaderinsustainabletradeandtransport,whilesettingnewbenchmarksforthefutureofpostalservices,”hesays.

Globalizingcollaboration

Lookingahead,Alashramemphasizestheongoingneedforstrongercross-sectorcollaboration.

“Inanerawheree-commerceanddigitaltradearerapidly

reshapingcross-borderlogistics,strongpartnershipsbetweenpostaloperators,logisticsproviders,and

e-commerceplatformsarecriticaltoenhancing

efficiency,interoperability,andsustainability,”hesays.

TheUAEisalreadyworkingwithpartnersworldwideoncommontechnologyframeworks,ensuring

interoperabilityindigitaltradeandcontributingto

internationaldiscussionsonregulatorybestpractices.

ThecountryactivelyparticipatesinglobaldialogueontheseissuesviatheUPU,whereitservesasamemberofboth

theCouncilofAdministrationandthePostalOperations

Council.WhiletheUPUalreadyprovidesaninvaluable

spaceforcountriestoexchangeideasandexperiences,

AlashramsuggestswaystheUPUanditsmemberscanfostermorerapiddigitaltransformationacrosstheindustry.

“AlthoughtheUPUhasbeeneffectiveinpromoting

collaborationandstandardization,theshiftingglobaleconomyneedsmoreflexibleframeworksand

increasedpublic-private-partnershipstomeetthe

increasingdemandsofe-commerce,fintech-driven

postalservices,andcross-bordertradefacilitation,”hesays.“Acceleratingdigitaladoptionwhilemakingsurethatregulatoryframeworkscontinuetobeinclusive

andflexibleenoughtoaccommodatearangeofmarketconditionsshouldremainatoppriority.”

Hereiteratesthecountry’sdrivetoleadthesediscussionswheneverpossible.

“TheUAEremainscommittedtomodernizingtheindustryandenhancingthecontributionofpostalnetworkstoeconomicgrowthin

collaborationwiththeUPUanditsmembers.”

CountdowntoDubai

TheUAEwillhavethechancetotakethespotlightasa

catalystforinternationalpostalcooperationandinnovationasthehostofthe28thUniversalPostalCongress,which

willtakeplaceinDubaithiscomingSeptember.The

quadrennialdecision-makingbodyoftheUPUissetto

drawthousandsofrepresentativesfrompostaloperators,governmentministries,postalregulatorsandwiderpostalsectorplayersfromacrossits192membercountries.

“TheUAE’sdecisiontohostthe28thUniversalPostal

Congressisareflectionofitslongstandingcommitment

toglobalcollaboration,innovation,andtradefacilitation,”assertsAlashram,whoisoverseeingUAE’splansashostasDeputyChairoftheCongressOrganizingCommittee.

“Asakeylogisticshub,theUAEisinauniquepositiontoadvanceconversationsaboutmodernizing

theworld’spostalindustry,”hesays.

VOICESFROMTHEPOSTALSECTORANDBEYOND

Representativesfromthehostcountry(UAE)andtheUPUgatheredinDubaifortheCongressOrganizationCommitteemeetingheldinJune2024.

INTERVIEW

FROMTHEEMIRATESTOTHEWORLD:THEUAESHARESITSVISIONFORADIGITALANDSUSTAINABLEPOSTALFUTURE

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UNIONPOSTALE|SPRING2025