During the opening ceremony of the UPU’s 27th Universal Postal Congress a number of ballet dancers from the National Ballet Company of Côte d'Ivoire took to the stage to celebrate the world’s five major continents.
Produced by esteemed Ivorian choreographer and dancer, Georges Momboye, who was born in Kouibly, a town in the west of the country, each dance offered a unique and colourful vision of the world and its many societies.
The dance also provided a welcome symbol of the UPU’s own efforts as the UN specialized agency for postal matters. Throughout its 146-year history, the UPU has striven to harmonize distinctive nations to forge a universal postal network from its 192 member countries.
Held at the Sofofitel hotel in Abidjan, Côte d' Ivoire, the Universal Postal Congress brings together the postal world to discuss the future of the postal sector. Postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Congress was finally able to go ahead in 2021.
Organized by the Host Committee, the Opening Ceremony provided an immediate sense of the flair and originality that the government of Côte d' Ivoire has brought to the organization of the Congress.
In his key note address, the Director General of the Universal Postal Union Bishar A. Hussein paid warm tribute to the President of Côte d' Ivoire, Mr. Alassane Ouattara for organizing and funding this Congress, and for so warmly welcoming the UPU to Abidjan.
Mr Hussein also used his speech to commend the postal sector and the postal workers during the pandemic who rose to the occasion and worked tirelessly and courageously to ensure that people in lockdown received their goods and services.
He said, “In the last 18 months, the international postal sector has experienced incredible change, with some governments declaring the post as a critical infrastructure. In many administrations, governments used the post to deliver essential services including Covid-19 medicine and vaccines.”
The UPU Director General then called on the participants to observe a moment of silence for the “heroes and heroines” in the postal sector who had lost their lives due to COVID-19.
Acknowledging that this was his last Universal Postal Congress as director general, Mr. Hussein offered thanks to everyone within the UPU’s extended family. He delivered a particularly graceful note of thanks to UPU’s Deputy Director General Pascal Clivaz, who he described as a “true spirit of change.”
Speaking of the work undertaken by the two UPU high officials, Mr. Hussein said, “The splendid reforms we achieved would not have been possible without your hard work, planning, coordination and support. Thank you very much and I wish you good luck in your campaign to become Director General.”
Mr. Hussein also thanked his senior management, and a number of heads of designated operators, before expressing his profound gratitude to African states for endorsing and supporting his candidacy for the position of the DG not once but twice. “Your endorsement was instrumental to my success,” he said.
The Director General also praised the president and the government of Kenya, for supporting his election campaign and backing him throughout his time at the UPU.