Riyadh, September 08, 2023, The Kingdom will host the Fourth Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations specialized agency in charge of leading the development, regulation, interoperability, and sustainability of the global postal network, in Riyadh from October 1 to October 5, 2023, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Congress, the UPU's top decision-making body, meets every four years with plenipotentiaries from all 192 of the organization's member nations. When there are pressing postal sector concerns that need to be resolved immediately and can't wait until the following quadrennial gathering, an extraordinary congress is called at the request of the member countries. UPU member nations will debate opening the Union to more stakeholders in the postal sector during the Fourth Extraordinary Congress, as well as developing a future strategy for the sector's climate action, postal financial services, and other pressing sectoral issues.
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Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was thanked on behalf of the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, for generously financing the Fourth Extraordinary Conference of the Universal Postal Union. He acknowledged His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's indispensable assistance in bringing the system's development and service projects, which are in line with the audacious objectives of the national strategy for transportation and logistics services under Vision 2030, to fruition.
Hosting the conference demonstrates the Kingdom's unrivaled worldwide stature and influence within international organizations. Eng. Al-Jasser emphasized the vital significance of the Universal Postal Union's member states working together to create standards for providing postal services, fostering electronic commerce, and increasing the economy. The Kingdom seeks to establish itself as a global logistics hub and a model for a seamless transportation system that connects the world's continents by utilizing cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence to develop services for the beneficiaries.
During the October 2022 plenary meeting of the UPU's Council of Administration, the member states of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) voted to award the Kingdom the privilege of hosting the conference.
As a national accomplishment, hosting the conference demonstrates the Kingdom's active participation in international organizations and its contributions to strengthening member state cooperation in the development of postal services, ambitious initiatives, and future projects in line with Saudi Vision 2030. On this occasion, Saudi Arabia becomes the third Arab nation to hold a UPU Congress. The Kingdom is eager to highlight its influential position across a variety of fields, as well as its goals and activities in growing the postal and logistics sectors in accordance with the National Transport and Logistics Service's Strategy, as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 plan.
This chance allows it to showcase its superior capacity for organizing such conferences with a high level of professionalism and meticulous planning, as well as to present a favorable image of its wealthy landscape, rich cultural heritage, and friendly people.
Masahiko Metoki, director general of the UPU, expressed his appreciation for the hospitality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in hosting the international postal community, which included ministers, the heads of postal operators, partners in the postal sector, and members of the UPU secretariat.
This extraordinary congress takes place at a crucial time for the UPU as it works to forge new alliances and connections with all parts of the postal industry as a whole. According to the UPU Director General, the proposals under consideration at this Congress aim to ensure that postal services around the world satisfy the requirements and aspirations of all individuals and organizations in a dynamic environment while fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future.
