SECRETARYGENERAL’S DESK

Greetings from the Asian-Pacific Postal Union!

As we reach the midpoint of 2026, it is clear that our region—and the world continues to navigate a period of profound uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions, economic pressures, and rapid technological change are reshaping the environment in which public service
institutions operate. Yet in moments such as these, the value of cooperation, stability, and trusted public infrastructure becomes even more evident. The postal sector has long embodied these principles, providing essential connections for communities, businesses, and governments alike.

This month, I had the opportunity to participate in the Global Post-Customs Forum on Security and Business in San Salvador, jointly organized by the UPU and the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP). The Forum brought together postal and customs leaders from different regions to discuss common challenges related to cross-border trade, security requirements, operational efficiency, and digital transformation. The exchanges
reinforced the importance of international cooperation and highlighted the growing need for stronger coordination between postal and customs stakeholders to facilitate secure and efficient trade.

In this Global Forum, I was also honoured to participate as a panellist in a high-level session on postal security alongside the Secretaries General of the Caribbean Postal Union (CPU), the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), and PUASP. The session was expertly moderated by Dawn Wilkes, Global Security Programme Manager, US Postal Inspection Service. The discussion explored regional approaches to protecting postal staff, facilities, shipments, and revenues, with particular attention to emerging security risks and the importance of proactive strategies. The session provided a
valuable opportunity to exchange regional experiences and reaffirm the importance of proactive collaboration in strengthening the security and resilience of the global postal network.

The month also marked the commencement of two regular training programmes at the Asian-Pacific Postal College: Human Resource Management (HRM) and Parcel, Logistics and Operations Management (PLOM). Bringing together postal professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region, these programmes reflect our continued commitment to strengthening both leadership capabilities and operational expertise. Investment in people remains one of the most important foundations for a future-ready postal sector.