SECRETARYGENERAL’S DESK

Greetings from the Asian-Pacific Postal Union!

As we enter the second half of 2026, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together during the first six months
of the year and to look ahead to several important moments for the APPU community.

The first half of 2026 has been active and meaningful for the Union. Through meetings, training programmes, regional initiatives, and exchanges with members and partners, we have continued to strengthen cooperation and deepen our shared understanding of the priorities facing
the postal sector. The Union has also remained actively engaged in dialogue on international and inter-regional platforms, contributing Asia-Pacific perspectives while learning from the experiences of postal organisations and stakeholders beyond our region.

From capacity building at the Asian-Pacific Postal College to UPU-supported regional projects in areas such as cross-border e-commerce, postal regulatory reform, and operational improvement, our activities have reflected the continued commitment of members to building stronger, more responsive, and future-ready postal services.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all APPU member countries for their continued support, active participation, and valuable contributions. The strength of APPU has always come from the trust and cooperation of its members. Each discussion, proposal, and exchange of experience helps us better understand the diverse realities of our region and identify practical ways to move forward together.

I am also grateful to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Thailand Post for their steadfast support to the APPU Bureau and APPC.
Their continued commitment has been essential to the smooth operation of our activities in Bangkok and to the wider work of the Union. My thanks also go to the Universal Postal Union, other Restricted Unions, business partners, and all stakeholders who have worked with us in different capacities during this period.

Looking further ahead, 2027 will be a landmark year as APPU celebrates its 65th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, a proposal is being
developed for the first-ever APPU Omnibus Stamp Issue. The initiative is being coordinated by a Select Committee chaired by the Philippine Postal Corporation, with the stamp planned for release on 1 April 2027. Following consultations with member countries, the Committee has finalized the proposed stamp theme – ‘Evolution of the Post: Tradition to Digital Transformation’ – along with the basic design framework. This will be submitted to the upcoming APPU Congress for its consideration and approval.