Postal administrators from Arab countries discussed the Arab stand on postal issues at the 15th meeting of the Arab Permanent Postal Council at the General Secretariat of Arab League, Cairo.

Emirates Post was appointed head of a special committee to prepare the Arab approach for the UPU Congress which will be held in Nairobi from August 13 to September 3, 2008.

A high-level delegation from Emirates Post headed by assistant director general, operations, Salem Al Shaya took part in the deliberations. The participants included senior officials from Arab postal corporations, the Arab League and the UPU.

The council discussed a number of key issues, including modernisation of mail operations in Arab countries. It was decided to issue a stamp on Arab Postal Day on September 3, 2008.

The meeting also urged all Arab postal corporations to participate in the Stamp Exhibition in Doha from January 30 to February 3, 2008.

The council reiterated its support to Palestine Post and called for steps to help the state modernise its mail and parcel services. It was also agreed to issue special stamps on Palestine Land Day and donate the proceeds to Palestinian Authority.

“Emirates Post shares a commitment to raise postal standards across the Arab world under the leadership of the UPU. Sharing ideas with representatives of Arab postal organizations gave us new insights that will help us draft a more effective common strategy,” said president of Emirates Post Group Abdulla Al Daboos.

“The meeting served to create greater solidarity between Arab postal organisations and share ideas on growth strategies through stronger cooperation,” said Al Shaya.

“Emirates Post expressed its resolve to prepare a strategy designed to upgrade all-round standards in postal services in all Arab countries. The meeting also urged for bridging the digital divide in postal services and highlighted the goal of automating all post offices by 2015.”

The Emirates Post delegation made presentations on International Financial Services (IFS) as head of the Arab management committee, the Arab postal strategy for Nairobi Congress 2008 and UPU clearing.

Other members of the Emirates Post delegation included director, operations, Saif Al Shehhi, and postal operations consultant Nasser Qadoumi. - TradeArabia News Service