Latest news with #UPU
Finextra
15-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Visa and Universal Postal Union collaborate to help boost financial inclusion
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a UN agency that serves as the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, have announced a strategic collaboration to expand access to digital postal financial services within the UPU network. 0 The collaboration aims to promote financial inclusion and stimulate economic development by leveraging the UN agency's international postal network and Visa's payments network. As part of the collaboration, Visa and UPU announced three programs: • Global Postal Digital Inclusive Finance Program: This program aims to help advance financial inclusion and economic resilience by providing tailored support for post offices that are digitalizing postal financial services. It will cover regions including Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Arab world. • Improving Postal Payment Interconnectivity: Enhance the UPU network's cross-border payment capabilities by integrating with Visa's global network. • Cybersecurity & Risk Advisory Program: This initiative will leverage Visa's cybersecurity and risk credentials to assess and help enhance cybersecurity strategies, the safety and reliability of financial services within the UPU's postal payment system. Key Areas of Collaboration: • Digitalizing Postal Financial Services: Enhancing digital services such as international remittances, bill payments, and inbound payments to help meet postal operators' needs at their current stage of digitalization. • Provision of Government Services through Postal Networks: Facilitating more inclusive access to government services and payments, including disbursements and tax collection, to support national financial inclusion strategies. • Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Digitalization and Financing: Supporting the economic inclusion of MSMEs, particularly women-owned businesses, through digital solutions like e-marketplaces and mobile-based loan disbursements. • Cybersecurity and Risk Management: Strengthening cybersecurity measures and risk mitigation tools to help protect the international postal network from potential cyber threats. The new collaboration builds on the success of the UPU Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility (FITAF), an initiative supported by Visa and the Gates Foundation that helps postal operators in developing countries provide financial services to local communities. Rajiv Garodia, Head of Visa Government Solutions, said: "Visa is committed to using our global network and innovative technology to help empower governments and drive financial inclusion globally. The UPU is a perfect collaborator for us in this respect as it plays a significant role in providing financial services to 1.5 billion people worldwide'. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation, and Markets at the UPU, said: At the UPU, we strive to foster international collaborations to drive the improvement of financial services, digital transformation, financial inclusion, innovation, and knowledge sharing within our postal network. Our goal is to diversify digital postal financial products and solutions to ensure that every community - no matter how remote - has access to relevant, reliable, and efficient services. Promoting public-private partnerships, like the one with Visa, is a priority for the UPU in delivering sustainable and scalable digital solutions that meet the needs of underserved postal customers - helping them access digital payments, digital savings, credit, and inclusive insurance, while supporting national financial inclusion goals.'
Finextra
14-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Universal Postal Union partners Visa on financial inclusion
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a UN agency that serves as the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, have announced a strategic collaboration to expand access to digital postal financial services within the UPU network. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. The collaboration aims to promote financial inclusion and stimulate economic development by leveraging the UN agency's international postal network and Visa's payments network. As part of the collaboration, Visa and UPU announced three programs: • Global Postal Digital Inclusive Finance Program: This program aims to help advance financial inclusion and economic resilience by providing tailored support for post offices that are digitalizing postal financial services. It will cover regions including Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Arab world. • Improving Postal Payment Interconnectivity: Enhance the UPU network's cross-border payment capabilities by integrating with Visa's global network. • Cybersecurity & Risk Advisory Program: This initiative will leverage Visa's cybersecurity and risk credentials to assess and help enhance cybersecurity strategies, the safety and reliability of financial services within the UPU's postal payment system. Key Areas of Collaboration: • Digitalizing Postal Financial Services: Enhancing digital services such as international remittances, bill payments, and inbound payments to help meet postal operators' needs at their current stage of digitalization. • Provision of Government Services through Postal Networks: Facilitating more inclusive access to government services and payments, including disbursements and tax collection, to support national financial inclusion strategies. • Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Digitalization and Financing: Supporting the economic inclusion of MSMEs, particularly women-owned businesses, through digital solutions like e-marketplaces and mobile-based loan disbursements. • Cybersecurity and Risk Management: Strengthening cybersecurity measures and risk mitigation tools to help protect the international postal network from potential cyber threats. The new collaboration builds on the success of the UPU Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility (FITAF), an initiative supported by Visa and the Gates Foundation that helps postal operators in developing countries provide financial services to local communities. Rajiv Garodia, Head of Visa Government Solutions, said: "Visa is committed to using our global network and innovative technology to help empower governments and drive financial inclusion globally. The UPU is a perfect collaborator for us in this respect as it plays a significant role in providing financial services to 1.5 billion people worldwide'. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation, and Markets at the UPU, said: At the UPU, we strive to foster international collaborations to drive the improvement of financial services, digital transformation, financial inclusion, innovation, and knowledge sharing within our postal network. Our goal is to diversify digital postal financial products and solutions to ensure that every community – no matter how remote – has access to relevant, reliable, and efficient services. Promoting public-private partnerships, like the one with Visa, is a priority for the UPU in delivering sustainable and scalable digital solutions that meet the needs of underserved postal customers – helping them access digital payments, digital savings, credit, and inclusive insurance, while supporting national financial inclusion goals.'
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Postal Prosperity Zone Oman project to launch this month
MUSCAT: A landmark initiative to integrate the Sultanate of Oman into the Postal Prosperity Zone (PPZ) – a global innovation programme promoted by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – formally get underway this month. Overseeing the delivery of the PPZ Oman project is the partnership of Oman Post, part of Asyad Group, and UPU member Logistic-Natives, an international logistics infrastructure network for modern commerce. 'The PPZ Oman project, designed and managed by Oman Post and UPU CC member Logistics Natives, will start in May 2025, positioning Oman as a strategic node in a future-oriented, postal-driven e-commerce superhighway,' Berlin-based Logistic-Natives announced in a post on Monday. Plans for the establishment of the a PPZ project in Oman – the first in Asia and the Gulf region – were first unveiled last month during a visit by a high-level delegation from the Universal Postal Union (UPU), its Consultative Committee (UPU CC), and representatives from the World Customs Organization (WCO), government institutions, and global e-commerce stakeholders including Cainiao, SF Express and YTO. The underlying objective was to firm up plans for the establishment of the Middle East's first PPZ in the Sultanate of Oman. The PPZ initiative aims to enhance the integrated logistics network by establishing seamless digital links between Oman Post and international e-commerce platforms. It supports the development of modern customs systems and strengthens Oman's global transport competitiveness. The project focuses on real-time data exchange between postal and customs services, unifying labelling and tracking procedures, and optimising the movement of goods across air, sea, rail and road networks. Logistic-Natives, an association representing the interests of over 30,000 companies in the logistics industry, has described the PPZ initiative as a 'model for seamless cross-border e-commerce'. 'The PPZ initiative is a global innovation programme initiated by the UPU CC,' the German infrastructure network noted in its post. 'Fully aligned with UPU and WCO standards and regulations and based on existing UPU IT infrastructure, it facilitates cross-border e-commerce by (1) Establishing direct IT connectivity and integration between national posts and commercial senders (e.g. marketplaces); (2) Upgrading customs clearance flows and related infrastructure to meet global benchmarks and best practices; and (3) Optimising the digital and operational capabilities of national posts to provide competitive e-commerce delivery solutions and services which meet the requirements of commercial senders.' 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
12-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Postal Prosperity Zone Oman project to launch this month
MUSCAT: A landmark initiative to integrate the Sultanate of Oman into the Postal Prosperity Zone (PPZ) – a global innovation programme promoted by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – formally get underway this month. Overseeing the delivery of the PPZ Oman project is the partnership of Oman Post, part of Asyad Group, and UPU member Logistic-Natives, an international logistics infrastructure network for modern commerce. 'The PPZ Oman project, designed and managed by Oman Post and UPU CC member Logistics Natives, will start in May 2025, positioning Oman as a strategic node in a future-oriented, postal-driven e-commerce superhighway,' Berlin-based Logistic-Natives announced in a post on Monday. Plans for the establishment of the a PPZ project in Oman – the first in Asia and the Gulf region – were first unveiled last month during a visit by a high-level delegation from the Universal Postal Union (UPU), its Consultative Committee (UPU CC), and representatives from the World Customs Organization (WCO), government institutions, and global e-commerce stakeholders including Cainiao, SF Express and YTO. The underlying objective was to firm up plans for the establishment of the Middle East's first PPZ in the Sultanate of Oman. The PPZ initiative aims to enhance the integrated logistics network by establishing seamless digital links between Oman Post and international e-commerce platforms. It supports the development of modern customs systems and strengthens Oman's global transport competitiveness. The project focuses on real-time data exchange between postal and customs services, unifying labelling and tracking procedures, and optimising the movement of goods across air, sea, rail and road networks. Logistic-Natives, an association representing the interests of over 30,000 companies in the logistics industry, has described the PPZ initiative as a 'model for seamless cross-border e-commerce'. 'The PPZ initiative is a global innovation programme initiated by the UPU CC,' the German infrastructure network noted in its post. 'Fully aligned with UPU and WCO standards and regulations and based on existing UPU IT infrastructure, it facilitates cross-border e-commerce by (1) Establishing direct IT connectivity and integration between national posts and commercial senders (e.g. marketplaces); (2) Upgrading customs clearance flows and related infrastructure to meet global benchmarks and best practices; and (3) Optimising the digital and operational capabilities of national posts to provide competitive e-commerce delivery solutions and services which meet the requirements of commercial senders.'
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
India suspends postal exchange with Pak: No exchange of daak for over 4 years now, say officials
Speaking to The Indian Express, Lakshmikanta Dash, deputy director general (DDG), International Relations and Global Business, India Post, said: 'The Government of India has decided to suspend the exchange of all kinds of postal mail and parcels from Pakistan via both air and land routes.' However, practically, the postal services between the two countries have remained suspended for the last five years now, after Islamabad had 'unilaterally stopped accepting postal bags from India' at Wagah border (land route) and other points of exchange including air route in August 2019 following abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu & Kashmir. It was first in the history of both the countries. Even through the three wars that two countries have fought, the exchange of daak had remained unaffected. The services resumed in November 2019 for a brief period, before again being stopped by Pakistan in 2020. India however had still kept the window open and hadn't issued any written order banning postal exchange with Pakistan at that time. The Saturday's order is a first by New Delhi officially banning postal exchange with Pakistan. The exchange in November 2019 had resumed after India shot off a letter to UN-based agency Universal Postal Union (UPU) headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, apprising them of Pakistan's 'unilateral' decision and that it has 'defied UPU norms' by not serving any prior notice before suspending the service. The international postal service across the world is regulated by UPU. However, according to India Post officials, Islamabad again stopped the postal exchange 'without any prior notice somewhere in 2020.' Dash said since over four years now, 'Pakistan was not accepting postal mail bags from India.' 'Today it's the first such order from our side suspending the exchange. Pakistan has not accepted our mails for at least four years now. In 2020, our department had tendered a reply in the Parliament that no mails were being exchanged between both countries. In fact, the Indian side had requested Islamabd to accept the letters keeping in view some fishermen who happen to be in Pakistan jails and their family members want to connect with them but there was no positive outcome,' said Dash. There are three agreements signed between both countries covering postal exchange. The oldest one is Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948 followed by 'Exchange of Postal Article, 1974' and 'International Speed Post Agreement, 1987.' For the people of the two countries, with loved ones on both sides of the border, daak or khat, was an important link even in the times of emails, WhatsApp and video calls. A postal department official from Amritsar division said: 'After Pakistan resumed the postal exchange via Attari-Wagah border, the vans from both sides used to swap mail bags but it stopped again during Covid in 2020. It never resumed thereafter and Wagah border was also removed as a point of exchange, and entire operations were shifted to Foreign Post Office (FPO), Delhi'. Earlier, the two countries used to exchange mailbags via air-route almost on a daily basis and land route (Wagah border), and Delhi and Mumbai Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) were designated to handle mail for Pakistan. Delhi-based Devika Mittal, who runs a peace initiative Aaghaz-e-Dosti, under which schoolchildren from both countries are encouraged to communicate with each other via letters, said: 'Until 2017, we were posting those letters and children in both countries could feel that love and emotion by holding those letters in their hands. However, even then, it would take ages for letters to get delivered. The postal exchange was a silent but powerful medium for people of both countries to connect. Now, we just scan the letters and teachers take print-outs and give them to children to read'. Chandigarh -based Navsangeet Kaur, founder of White Faclon Publishing House, says: 'Knowing the importance of letter writing between people of both countries and how those letters are now a part of invaluable heritage, we published a book 'Chitthi Sarhad Paar Se' (A letter from across the border) which is a compilation of such letters from both sides.' August 23, 2019: Pakistan 'unilaterally' stops postal exchange with India following abrogation of Article 370 from J&K. India writes to Universal Postal Union (UPU), Switzerland; says Pakistan has 'defied UPU norms' by not issuing prior notice before suspending service October 2019: India stops postal bookings for Pakistan, says not being picked up by the other side. November 2019: Pakistan Post issues order to 'partially resume' services with India, 'only to the extent of letter mail and Express Mail Service (EMS) documents'; exchange of parcels, merchandise etc still banned
