World postal strategy

Adopted at Congress, the UPU’s world postal strategy is a roadmap for the future of the global postal sector and the organization that oversees its evolution.

The UPU adopted its first strategic plan at its Washington Congress in 1989. Since then, strategies were adopted at the Congresses held in Seoul (1994), Beijing (1999), Bucharest (2004), Geneva* (2008) and Doha (2012). This is why the current world postal strategy is known as the Doha Postal Strategy.

In between Congresses, held every four years, the UPU official bodies focus on achieving the key goals of the strategy, aimed at strengthening the physical, electronic and financial dimensions of the global postal network.

The strategy's aim is to ensure the postal sector evolves to meet the communication needs of consumers and businesses worldwide and plays its role as an essential component of the global economy.

The strategy takes into account the viewpoints of postal stakeholders, who are widely consulted at the drafting stage. It lays the foundation for modernizing and stimulating the development of postal services worldwide.

Also taken into account are the many challenges and phenomena the postal sector faces, including globalization, market liberalization, competition, electronic substitution, the advancement of new technologies, and regional and national inequalities. 

Regional approach

Since 2005, the UPU has adopted a regional approach for implementing its strategy, relying on its 17 restricted unions throughout the world to play a leading role.

While contributing to the overall implementation of the strategy, the regions also decide on their own priorities. Some countries give first priority to quality of service, while others place postal reform or the development of financial services at the top of their agenda.

The next world postal strategy will be presented for adoption at the 26th Universal Postal Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2016. It will become the Istanbul Postal Strategy.

*The strategy normally takes the name of the city in which the Congress was held. In 2008, the 24th UPU Congress was to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, but it was finally held in Geneva. The UPU International Bureau, instead of Switzerland, was responsible for organizing Congress, and named the 2009-2012 strategic document the Nairobi Postal Strategy to honour the expected host city.