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The Mexican Postal Service has a new leader. Violeta Abreu was appointed General Director of Correos de México by the first woman to serve as president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office on 1 October. Abreu, herself one of only a few women leading posts, discussed with the UPU her vision for continuing the transformational work of her predecessor, Rocío Bárcena, to modernize the post and to diversify its offerings so that the Mexican Postal Service may become a leader in logistics and e-commerce for the nation and beyond.
“As our President, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, has mentioned: ‘It is time for women.’” Abreu said. “By integrating a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, we will achieve much more creative, efficient, and adaptable solutions to future challenges… In this time of women, it is essential that we can inspire all the women of the country by showing that it is possible to overcome obstacles and contribute to significant change.”
Abreu aims to continue the post’s modernization efforts, which began six years ago, to include operational logistics, strengthening human resources, and growing technological capacity.
This includes sustainability efforts, such as replacing the vehicle fleet, with 20 percent of new vehicles being electric or hybrid, implementing advanced technologies, such as fleet management systems and route optimization software to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and using recyclable and biodegradable packaging materials. And the post continuously reviews operational processes to determine how they can be digitalized.
The post is also diversifying services beyond letters and parcels, Abreu said, to include alliances with other government institutions. The post aims to be the main logistics operator for such projects as distribution of medicines and school textbooks. With the post’s presence in even the most remote of areas, it fulfils a vital social function, Abreu said. The post also works to remain competitive with large, private operators to bring fair prices to everyone.
“This modernization goes hand in hand with affordable prices for all Mexicans,” Abreu said, “because the postal service is made for people so that they can keep their family close no matter how many miles separate them.”
The post also aims to be a leader and reference in postal development for other members of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal.
“We want to lead regional initiatives that strengthen postal integration, share good practices and implement strategies for the modernization of the postal system,” she said.
A key area of focus is providing services that foster economic inclusion for micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises with a project launched during the previous administration known as CorreosClic Marketplace. The CorreosClic e-commerce platform brings visibility to businesses and artisans throughout the country allowing them to deliver their products to any corner of the world, Abreu said.
The project has caught the attention of shoppers throughout the world, including people from Zambia and Russia, who have browsed products and some also made purchases.
Such sharing of innovation and collaboration supports the post’s aims to be a source of connection between the Universal Postal Union’s member countries.
“Mexico has a privileged geopolitical position,” she said, “and we must take advantage of that opportunity to act as a bridge between the Americas and other UPU member countries, interconnecting all the designated operators of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, promoting collaboration and postal traffic between all regions of the world.”
Along with its digital marketplace, the post aims to support the growth of all Mexican companies by working hand-in-hand with each of them, she said. This includes offering courses and training for entrepreneurs and companies and expanding postal services to meet their needs.
“Our vision is that all Mexican companies – whether micro, small, medium or large – join this initiative, and, through our Marketplace, the richness and magic of Mexican products can be shared in all countries of the world,” Abreu said. “We want to be a part of the engine of economic development in the country, so that trade is enhanced through the Mexican Postal Service network.”
While the Mexican Postal Service continues to evolve and grow into the digital revolution, what also remains strong is the heart of the postal mission to connect people, a mission that relies on the dedication of its employees, Abreu said.
“Correos de México is a people's institution that contributes with the development and communication at the national level, Latin America and the world,” Abreu said. “[It] is made up of women and men who, for years, have been anonymous heroines and heroes who travel kilometers so that Mexicans can communicate with their loved ones.”
This article first appeared in Union Postale Autumn/Winter 2024.