SECRETARYGENERAL’S DESK

Greetings from the Asian-Pacific Postal Union!

As May progresses, I would like to share some reflections on key developments that have a significant bearing on our collective work across the region.

The postal sector is undergoing a period of structural transition, driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce, digital transformation, and the emerging impact of artificial intelligence. In this context, it is increasingly clear that transformation cannot be driven by technology alone. As a labor-intensive service sector facing growing competition and rising customer expectations, the postal sector must pursue change through a balanced combination of institutional reform, market-oriented approaches, and technological capability.

Innovation must, therefore, be supported not only by tools and systems, but also by sustained investment in people, good research, and the sharing of best practices across administrations. Progress will also depend on stronger governance frameworks, improved interoperability, and partnerships that enable national postal operators to participate more effectively in the wider logistics and digital ecosystem. While each administration must identify its own pathway based on national circumstances and priorities, the shared direction across the region is clear: strengthening core operations, enhancing visibility, and building more integrated, responsive, and future-ready networks, and investing in capacity building of the postal workforce.

This month, the Asian-Pacific Postal College successfully conducted the International Postal Services (IPS) and Marketing and Innovation for Posts (MIP) courses. The active engagement and successful graduation of participants from across the region reflect the continued value of regional capacity building and the importance of equipping postal staff with the skills required in a rapidly changing environment.

In mid-April, I participated in the 25th Congress of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP) in Portugal, as well as the Joint PUASP–ERGP Regulatory Forum. These engagements provided an opportunity to share perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region, particularly on the evolving concept of the Universal Service Obligation and the financing models that support it. The strong interest in these issues reflects a broader reality: postal operators across the world are navigating similar pressures as they adapt to new economic, regulatory, and technological conditions.