23-05-2023
Bern - Brussels, 22 May 2023 – UPU and IPC have signed a new cooperation agreement, intended to bring their current collaboration to new heights. This new agreement will run until December 2025.
The new agreement recognises the challenging and dynamic environment for the global postal industry and the respective membership of both organisations, the e-commerce opportunities for posts as well as the ever-evolving demand for cooperative solutions. Underlining that the global postal network is the best vehicle for facilitating e-commerce exchange and growth for posts and customers, the UPU and IPC agree to maximise cooperative efforts to strengthen and promote this network aimed at ensuring that it remains as the e-commerce channel of choice.
Marjan Osvald, UPU Deputy Director General, says: “In light of our intensive and successful dialogue, it is our honour to announce the signing of our new Cooperation Agreement. This aims to build a cooperative framework between the two organizations to further strengthen our postal network”.
Holger Winklbauer, CEO, IPC, says: “Our shared view is that a mutually supportive working relationship is desirable within a context of increasingly scarce resources. It is essential to demonstrate greater efficiency and promote innovative solutions and improvements for the postal industry as a whole”.
The global postal network constitutes an important vehicle for facilitating e-commerce exchanges. Through this agreement, UPU and IPC seek to jointly optimise efforts to contribute to the development of accessible, efficient, high quality, innovative and sustainable international postal services in UPU member countries’ designated operators which also includes IPC’s member posts.
Both organisations will explore the potential for joint initiatives, share information and expertise and maximise synergies and efficiencies in the offer of services and activities. At this stage, cooperation will be focused on ten agreed areas as follows:
- Yellow pages (IPC and UPU services);
- UPU-IPC information technology data interchange;
- Leg 2 - supply chain;
- International accounting;
- Sustainability;
- RFID interoperability;
- E-commerce and market research;
- Information technology alignment;
- International transport;
- Promoting and enabling export e-commerce.
Other areas for cooperation can and will be mutually explored and added throughout the lifetime of the agreement.
About the Universal Postal Union
Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with its headquarters in the Swiss capital Berne, is the world’s second oldest international organization. With 192 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for postal cooperation between governments, Posts, regulators and many other postal sector stakeholders. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. In this way, the organization fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.
For further information, please contact:
Kayla Redstone (Ms.)
Lead Communication & Outreach Expert
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
T: +41 31 350 34 92 E: [email protected]
About International Post Corporation
International Post Corporation (IPC) is the leading service provider of the global postal industry that provides leadership by driving service quality, interoperability and business-critical intelligence to support posts in defending existing business and expanding into new growth areas. It is a cooperative association of 26 member postal operators in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
IPC’s solutions and services are used by over 190 posts worldwide. Since 1989 IPC has set standards for upgrading quality and service performance and developed technological solutions that help members enhance service for international letters, packets and parcels. IPC engages in industry research, creates business-critical intelligence, provides a range of platforms and programmes for member post CEOs and senior management to exchange best practices and discuss strategy. IPC also manages the system for incentive-based payments between postal operators.
For further information, please contact:
Eva Wouters
Communications manager, PR and media relations
International Post Corporation
T: +32 2 724 71 91 E: [email protected]