World post day – October 9 - Innovation, integration and inclusion key drivers for the future of the post |09 October 2015
The Universal Postal Union in its draft world postal strategy for 2017-2020 has identified postal industry reform as the key driver for the future.
In its blueprint, Vision 2020, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) focuses on innovation, integration and inclusion as the main factors that will drive postal business in the future.
The future of the post strongly depends on its ability to innovate and create new products and services. One of the keys to innovation will be the post's capacity to embrace new technologies and transfer its trusted brands to the digital space.
As we celebrate world post day today, Seychelles Post can look back with satisfaction on a rich history of communication in Seychelles and has always been able to find its place in both local and international markets.
Indeed, the post can pride itself on being the oldest medium of communication, one that still plays a key role in the sending and delivering of information and goods.
From liberalisation to privatisation and the emergence of competition, the post has faced many challenges. Today, the traditional postal business line – letter post – has been greatly challenged by faster and more efficient ways of communication thanks to advancements in information and communications technologies. Postal operators have taken these challenges as opportunities to innovate and establish new market segments.
With the United Nations' new sustainable development goals which have been embraced by world leaders, the post today has an even more relevant role to play as an infrastructure for development.
Given its universal nature, the post is best placed to drive the economic, social, financial and digital inclusion of the citizens of the world. Achieving success in this area is one of the best ways to ensure the achievement of the sustainable development goals, for the benefit of the global community.
As postal operators we must focus on innovation, integration and inclusion in our business to create a strong post for the future. Only in doing so will the post be able to achieve success and maintain its place in the world market, with a presence that continues to be visible and relevant.
Postal staff are being asked to keep their hearts and minds open to provide a high level of postal services to their customers.
World post day is celebrated each year on October 9, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss capital, Bern.
It was declared World Post Day by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969.
The purpose of world post day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries.
The celebration encourages member countries to undertake activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of their post’s role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.
Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate world post day in a variety of ways. In certain countries, World Post Day is observed as a working holiday. Many postal services use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Other activities include the display of world post day posters in post offices and other public places, open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums, the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as cultural, sport and other recreational activities. Many postal administrations issue special souvenirs such as T-shirts and badges.