Sherrica Thompson
Staff Writer
#Caribbean, August 26, 2022 – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) have signed an agreement to modernize and transform postal services in Latin America and the Caribbean, aiming to promote regional integration and trade, strengthen value chains and boost digital. economy.
Postal services have unique advantages to facilitate trade, including a network that can reach remote areas, transactional logistics, and connections with other postal services and key actors in the trade process, such as customs and airlines. Improving these services across the region can lead to increased trade and help develop the digital economy, especially for small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), which make up around 99% of businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki said the UPU is pleased to work with the IDB to help posts across the Americas on their journey of transformation.
“Post offices have the mandate and infrastructure to serve people in all corners of a country, making them a powerful engine for socio-economic development and inclusion. We are delighted to work with the IDB to help posts across Latin America and the Caribbean on their transformation journey so they can provide modern services and maximize benefits for communities and businesses across the region,” Metoki said. .
IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone also commented on the partnership.
“We are excited to announce our partnership with the UPU, which puts into practice our shared vision of the potential of modern postal services to enhance the region’s connectivity, trade and value chains – all priorities of Vision 2025, the agenda of the IDB for promoting inclusive growth,” he said.
The partnership will allow the IDB to support countries as they incorporate international guidelines and standards issued and promoted by the UPU.
The institutions will also cooperate in researching data on trends and identifying existing gaps in postal services. The agreement involves the sharing of best practices and expertise from the modernization of postal services globally, which can be adapted and replicated in the region.
