Video statement made by UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki on the occasion of UNCTAD e-Commerce Week 25-29 April 2022
As the United Nations Specialized Agency for the postal sector, the Universal Postal Union is proud to be a founding partner of the eTrade-for-All initiative.
With over 650,000 outlets across the globe, the postal network is a unique asset to support government policies for inclusion and development. This role became even more clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Post ensured the delivery of essential services, medical equipment and goods.
Whether in cross-border e-commerce, last mile delivery, digital payments, national marketplaces or trade facilitation, the postal network is critical to implementing the eTrade-for-all goals and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
That’s why the UPU is a regular contributor to Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessments – informing the recommendations to ensure real impacts.
According to UPU research, Posts are diversifying into digital services, facilitating e-payments, e-commerce, e-logistics, e-government, and e-health. They are embracing mobile, blockchain, artificial intelligence and other industry 4.0 technologies. But more needs to be done.
In this context, the UPU offers technical assistance projects and tools to member countries to enhance Posts’ readiness for e-commerce – whether from an operational, digital, payment or sustainable development standpoint.
In this time of digitization, data is critical to effective network functioning.
Posts are a key facilitator of data capture and sharing in the supply chain. The UPU is working to enhance this exchange, especially with increasing border controls and compliance demands.
The UPU EAD project is focused on sharing Electronic Advance Data across the supply chain. The UPU Mobile Customs Data Capture Solution enables Posts to enhance data capture at the source.
Let me conclude by saying that the UPU is committed to working with all partners to build capacity and capability in member countries to ensure no one is left behind.
Thank you.
Watch the statement.