Welcome address by the Secretary General at Committee 3 of the 28th Universal Postal Congress

Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at 9:00

Your excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Good afternoon,

I have great pleasure in welcoming you to this opening session of Committee 3.

I would like to focus on three main points among the many key matters that are on the agenda of this Committee.

Firstly, the exchange of electronic advance data plays a pivotal role in optimizing the efficiency of the postal supply chain, especially given the increasing prominence of regulations mandating EAD provision. These issues come in addition to the recent decisions concerning the collection and remittance of customs duties. The UPU Acts safeguard the sovereign right of member countries to adopt customs and security policies consistent with their national interests and legislation. However, such requirements demand a UPU response to ensure that the mail keeps moving and that the universal service is not at risk. Therefore, it is imperative that our rules are developed collaboratively, in a balanced and internationally coordinated manner, and that questions relating to governmental policies and regulatory issues are properly addressed. This Committee will take some important decisions on this front.

Secondly, this Committee wilI consider a report on the implementation of the important decisions of the Fourth Extraordinary Congress, that was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two years ago. A key topic of that Congress was the opening up of the UPU to wider postal sector players. Now, two years later, this Committee will take stock of the progress made since that Congress and also take decisions to further progress our work on the topic.

Finally, this Committee will take up the UPU Strategy for the Dubai cycle. This is a forward-looking roadmap that redefines how the UPU and its stakeholders will adapt to the rapidly evolving communications and trade landscape. Through an extensive and inclusive process, the strategy was shaped by voices from across the entire postal ecosystem. This openness and diversity of inputs signal a powerful push for the sector's future. The future business plan will put us in a strong position to deliver on this new Strategy. Having followed an extensive consultation process, the business plan is also fully demand-driven and furthermore introduces results-based management principles that aim to strengthen the link with the UPU Strategy.

At its core, it is fundamentally about what sort of future you wish for our Union and the concrete measures you wish the UPU to implement as timely and considered policy and regulatory responses. Positive spirit has permeated our discussions in preparing for this Congress. Let us move forward and make the right decisions to take this Union to the next level. As Secretary General, I will do my utmost to contribute to this goal.

Thank you for your attention.