FROM SECRETARYGENERAL’S DESK
Greetings from the Asian-Pacific Postal Union!
Our region is rarely short of significant postal developments, and this month I am particularly pleased to share one that merits special mention. Brunei Darussalam, one of our esteemed APPU member countries, has taken a bold and forward-looking step by
corporatizing its national postal services. Effective 1 January 2026, postal operations in Brunei have been transferred to PosBru — a
wholly owned subsidiary of Darussalam Assets, duly licensed by AITI. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes to PosBru as they embark on this new chapter. We are confident that this transition will bring with it enhanced service efficiency and an enriched experience for customers.
As we step into March, it is perhaps a good moment to pause and reflect on the environment in which our designated operators across the Asia-Pacific region — and indeed around the world — are working today. The ongoing conflicts in several parts of the globe are posing serious challenges to business continuity, and to the deep-seated commitment that postal services carry: to serve people without interruption, regardless of circumstance. As these conflicts weigh on the world economy, Posts cannot remain untouched. And yet, history offers us reassurance. The global postal family has weathered crises before — natural disasters, wars, pandemics, economic downturns — and each time, we have found a way through. I have every confidence that we will do so again, sustained by our shared spirit of connecting people and communities.
At the same time, we must remain clear-eyed about a structural challenge facing the postal sector. Despite the considerable expansion of the global economy over the past two decades, postal revenues have grown only marginally. Recent industry analysis also highlights an important reality: revenue growth does not always translate into improved profitability. This reminds us that operational efficiency — through measures such as route optimization, transport planning, and workforce management — must be pursued alongside a continued focus on improving customer experience.
For the Asia-Pacific region — home to some of the world’s largest ecommerce exporters as well as many developing postal systems the noticeable gap between trade growth and postal revenue growth is a reminder that the challenges before us are structural, not transient. Growth in trade, in other words, does not automatically translate into growth for designated operators. The ability to capture value increasingly depends not only on network efficiency, but also on regulatory alignment, data quality, and the capacity to diversify services in a coherent and strategic manner.
One of the clearest lessons emerging from recent discussions is the growing impact of fragmentation in cross-border flows. As international routes become thinner and more dispersed, sustaining economies of scale becomes increasingly difficult. For our region, this reinforces the importance of stronger regional coordination. Greater alignment in standards implementation, data exchange practices, and operational planning can go a long way in helping our members maintain competitiveness within an ever more complex network environment.
In this context, I am glad to share that APPU’s recent and ongoing activities are closely aligned with these very priorities. The Interregional Forum on Postal Security, held in February 2026 at APPU in coordination with the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and
Portugal (PUASP), underscored the critical importance of trust, compliance, and structured risk management in cross-border exchange. Equally, the two training programmes being run by APPC in March 2026 — the Managing Quality of Service Course and the Business Development and Marketing Course — reflect our conviction that operational discipline and strategic growth must always advance hand in hand.
In the months ahead, I would encourage members to reflect on some immediate and practical questions: How resilient are our current
international corridors? Are our diversification efforts integrated and well-sequenced, or are they fragmented? Do our regulatory frameworks enable innovation while continuing to safeguard universal service? And, in what ways can regional cooperation be deepened to improve both scale and efficiency? The answers will naturally differ from country to country, but the shared objective is clear: to ensure that the Asia-Pacific postal sector remains relevant, reliable, and adaptable amid the shifting currents of the global economy and geopolitics. APPU will continue to serve as a platform for this dialogue and cooperation, and I look forward to working with all of you towards our common goals. I thank all members and partners sincerely for their continued engagement and wholehearted support of the Union’smission and activities.
Warm regards,
Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh
Secretary-General, APPU