UPU - Universal Postal Union

11/25/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/25/2021 09:34

Opening remarks by the Director General at the 2021.2 CA plenary session (S0)

Berne, 25 November 2021, 12.00, Heinrich von Stephan Hall

Mr Isaac Gnamba-Yao, Chair of the CA,
Argentina, Belgium, Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia, Vice-Chairs of the CA,
Deputy Secretary General,
Members of the CA,
Heads of Delegations,
Distinguished Delegates and Observers,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you, Chair, for the opportunity to make some brief remarks at the opening of this CA S0 plenary.

Let me start by wishing good health for you and your families, both for those who are with us physically in the meeting hall and those connecting from various parts of the world.

Welcome to the first CA of the new cycle - CA S0. My warm congratulations go to Mr Isaac Gnamba-Yao as representative of Côte d'Ivoire on his appointment to chair the Council of Administration this cycle. I believe Mr Gnamba has long experience in leading many committees and bodies in the UPU. I am sure the CA will benefit from this experience and the wise leadership he has always provided.

During this session, you will be approving the structure and composition of the CA bodies. We were very happy with the large number of member countries and observers that expressed their interest in participating in the work of the CA. This is a demonstration that the UPU membership truly values the work of the CA.

This is the first ordinary meeting after the Abidjan Congress in August, and I am glad to see you at this meeting amid the ongoing pandemic. I welcome you back to fulfil the obligations of the UPU. Welcome back to S0.

Again, I would like to say congratulations to all of you, to the new team, newly elected officials and members of the Council of Administration, member countries who lead this team, and all the delegates who are present here in this room and those who are participating remotely.

The CA has an important role to play in our Union: supervising all UPU activities between Congresses. We have been through a tumultuous period in the history of this organization and the international postal sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Posts to be creative, adaptive and innovative. It is against this background that the CA plays a key role by addressing challenging questions of the UPU.

The targets set by the Istanbul Congress have been achieved, and work on implementing the new world postal strategy - the Abidjan Postal Strategy - will now begin. We need to make the work of the Union more efficient and effective. I hope that member countries will work together to move forward in a spirit of cooperation based on the mandates given by the Abidjan Congress.

Today and tomorrow, you have some quite substantial items on the agenda. Apart from the various administrative and governance reports that will be presented to the Council, the meeting will decide particularly on the revised Abidjan Strategy and Business Plan, CA structure and work programme, and the Programme and Budget for 2022.

We shall be counting on the support of all of you to determine a conducive way forward in addressing the items presented for discussion today and tomorrow.

Mr Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen: I wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank you for your attention.