With the participation of over 30 delegates from 14 Arab nations, Egypt hosted the 47th session of the Arab Permanent Postal Committee, underscoring regional efforts to modernize and digitize postal and logistics services across the Arab world.
Chaired by Dalia El-Baz, Chairperson of Egypt Post, the event was attended by prominent regional and international figures, including Amb. Khaled Wali, Director of the Communications and Information Technology Development Department at the Arab League, and representatives from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) such as Hashem El-Hajj, Coordinator for the Arab Region and Emergency and Postal Resilience Affairs, and Mukhtar Al-Chadli, UPU Regional Advisor. Also in attendance was Isaac N’Namba Yao, CEO of Côte d’Ivoire Post and candidate for UPU Deputy Director-General for the 2026–2029 cycle.
Reinforcing Arab Postal Collaboration in the Digital Age
In her opening remarks, El-Baz conveyed greetings from Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, and emphasized the critical role of Arab collaboration in developing the postal sector. She highlighted the need for shared knowledge, innovative solutions, and digital transformation to ensure postal services remain competitive and aligned with the demands of the digital economy.
El-Baz emphasized the strategic value of integrating modern technologies to enhance operational efficiency, expand revenue streams, and strengthen logistics networks—particularly in light of the rapid growth in e-commerce across the Arab region.
Egypt as a Regional Postal Innovation Hub
El-Baz praised the high-level engagement and fruitful discussions around topics such as:
- Final preparations for the 28th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress, set to take place in the UAE in September 2025.
- Arab nominations for the UPU Administrative and Postal Investment Councils.
- Follow-up on the 2022–2025 Arab Regional Development Plan.
- The establishment of a database of Arab postal experts to strengthen capacity-building initiatives and regional technical support.
The committee also reviewed updates on South-South cooperation and triangular partnerships, underlining the UPU’s efforts to foster collaboration among developing nations.
Strategic Decisions Ahead of the UPU Congress
El-Baz underscored the importance of the current meeting as the final session before the UPU Congress. Key decisions to be made at the congress include:
- Election of the UPU Director-General and Deputy Director-General for 2026–2029.
- Adoption of the UPU Integrated Products and Pricing Plan.
- Approval of the UPU Strategic Framework and Regional Development Plans for 2026–2029.
- Shaping the future of global postal services amid economic and security challenges.
She praised the Arab contributions to UPU policymaking, particularly Egypt’s leadership as co-chair of the Postal Policy and Regulations Committee, which has spearheaded discussions on customs regulations and postal security.
A Unified Arab Voice in Global Postal Governance
The Arab Permanent Postal Committee, operating under the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information, plays a central role in harmonizing postal policy and fostering regional unity in global forums. Preceding the Cairo meeting, its technical working groups convened from May 26–28, 2025, at the Arab League headquarters.
Participating countries in this session included: Egypt, Palestine, Bahrain, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Tunisia, Morocco, and Yemen.
