The Universal Postal Union and Qatar today signed an agreement concerning the organization of the 2012 Universal Postal Congress in Doha.
More than 2,000 delegates from the UPU’s 191 member countries are expected to attend the event from 24 September to 15 October 2012.
The agreement defines the requirements for the event and the responsibilities of the host country. It was signed in Doha by Edouard Dayan, the UPU director general, and His Excellency Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Qatar’s minister of state for international cooperation and acting minister of business and trade. The two parties already signed a first agreement last year, formalizing the hosting of the UPU Congress in the Qatari capital.
“As the organization’s supreme legislative authority, the UPU Congress lays down regulations for international mail, parcels, e-services and financial exchanges, and strategic decisions are taken about the future direction for the world’s postal services,” Dayan said.
He thanked the Government of Qatar for its commitment in ensuring a successful Congress, the first to be held in the Gulf region. “The UPU looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Qatar and a successful event in Doha that will welcome representatives from all 191 member countries, including many ministers, postal chief executives and high-level representatives of the United Nations and other international and stakeholder organizations."
Chairman designate
The Congress convenes every four years. Although Congress’ main function is legislative, over the years it has increasingly focused on strategic issues influencing the development of the worldwide postal network’s physical, electronic and financial dimensions.
The government of Qatar earlier named Abdul Rahman Ali Al-Aqaily, acting chairman of the General Postal Corporation of Qatar, as the chairman designate of the 25th UPU Congress. A team, representing different government entities, has also been set up under his leadership to prepare for Congress.