The Universal Postal Union, in partnership with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), honoured five organizations at the 2024 TradePost Awards in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, 13 September. Pos Indonesia, MyDutyCollect, Turkish Post, Saudi Post, and Cambodia Post each demonstrated commitment to trade inclusion and support for growing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Postal services have always been an essential bridge between communities, markets, and people, and in today’s interconnected world, this role is more critical than ever,” said Barbara Oliveira Ramos, ITC’s Chief of Trade Strategies and Policies for Trade and Investment.The award for Public Initiative for Trade Inclusion Through the Post was awarded to Pos Indonesia for its project “The Collaboration Centre & Cash on Delivery Service to Suburban Areas.”
Pos Indonesia has connected 3 million MSMEs to the global market as post offices have been transformed into spaces for creation, connection, and innovation. Some 200 collaboration centres offer a physical space for women entrepreneurs to access e-commerce tools and resources, workshops and coaching on various aspects of e-commerce, such as digital marketing and financial management. They also network with others, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“Pos Indonesia has been a great help to me as an MSME owner,” said one woman entrepreneur who benefited from the project. “I can reach more customers and increase sales. It’s also fantastic to see my brand gaining more exposure.” (watch their video here)
The award for Private Initiative for Trade Inclusion Through the Post was awarded to the UPU Consultative Committee member MyDutyCollect for its project under the same name. This AI-driven, cross-border customs and taxes platform automates HS classification, landed cost, goods screening and tax payments. It provides crucial support to MSMEs, women, and underrepresented communities by simplifying VAT compliance through its IOSS intermediary services, enabling them to focus on growth and innovation.
“By combining our technology with our postal partner network and experience, we are uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive e-commerce solutions to support small businesses and economic growth across developed and emerging markets,” said Niall O’Neill, CEO of MyDutyCollect. (watch their video here)
Turkish Post received the UPU-ITC Award for Trade Inclusion Through the Post for its project “Increasing e-Commerce Skills of Women.” This project supports trade inclusion of women entrepreneurs and women cooperatives in Türkiye, with services such as special commission rates and e-commerce training.
One entrepreneur, a jewelry designer, said she feels safe delivering her unique, handmade jewelry through Turkish Post parcel services, who collect her shipments directly from her workshop.
“It also makes it easier to deliver everywhere,” she said. (watch their video here)
And finally, two posts were co-winners of the UPU-GATF Trade Facilitation Innovation Award: Saudi Post for its project “Prepaid SMEs Platform,” and Cambodia Post for its project “E-Customs Clearance Platform for Postal Shipments.”
Saudi Post’s platform fosters economic inclusivity by providing SMEs with access to reliable logistics services, supporting entrepreneurship, and reducing barriers to market entry. This led to increased average annual revenue by 20 per cent and empowered more than 5,000 SMEs to obtain less expensive logistics services.
Cambodia Post’s UPU CDS-UNCTAD ASYCUDA interface facilitates efficient customs clearance of low-risk postal consignments between Cambodia Post and Cambodia Customs. This automatic exchange of messages is part of the Improving Small Package e-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) project, using advanced technologies. The project is an initiative of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and implemented by Swisscontact in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce.
Philippe Isler, Director of the Alliance, said Cambodia Post is a prime example of what the Alliance has been working toward, bringing existing postal institutions and the private sector together.
“We have established some key digital connectivity between the postal system and customs to be able to help SMEs facilitate the process of exporting their goods from Cambodia to the rest of the world and I think we can replicate this now in many different countries,” Isler said.
With the ever-growing importance of trade inclusion and postal innovation, the UPU and its partners look forward to celebrating more groundbreaking projects during the next awards edition.
“At ITC, we believe in the potential of postal networks to unlock new opportunities for trade and job creation, particularly for SMEs and women-owned businesses. We look forward to collaborating with UPU and other partners in creating more inclusive and innovative trade systems that work for everyone,” Ramos added.
Stay tuned for updates on how to participate in the 2025 TradePost Awards to showcase your own initiatives in advancing global trade.