Delivering the 2020 postal vision

8 October 2012

Programme

9:30 a.m.
Opening

  • Dr Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Qatar

9:45 - 11:15 a.m.
First session - Technology and communication: what next?

Over the past few years, widespread access to broadband Internet and the development of smartphones and tablets have dramatically changed the behavioural habits of citizens and businesses alike. But what does the future hold? Will the changes level off and lead to a crystallization of a new type of behaviour? Or will technology continue its disruptive effects at even greater speed? These questions are relevant to the UPU and the postal sector, as the decline in core postal activities could accelerate and oblige postal operators to look for new business models. The impact of the communication and technological revolution on postal policy development will also be addressed in this first session.

Panellists

  • Ms Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology, Nigeria
  • Mr Nikolay A. Nikiforov, Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications, Russian Federation
  • Ms Dina Pule, Minister of Communications, South Africa
  • Mr Mongi Marzouk, Minister of ICT, Tunisia
  • Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

11.15-11.45
Coffee break

11.45-13.15
Second session - A sustainable postal sector at a time of global crises

Whether economic, environmental or security-related, crises can have a huge impact on the economy at a time of lean, global supply chains. Panellists will focus on what type of risk-management policies and guidelines the postal sector should use to deal with these situations. The fact that crises, for example economic ones, can also open up opportunities will be discussed. Finally, the postal sector’s role in overcoming multi-faceted crises will be explored.

Panellists

  • Mr Philip Jennings, General Secretary, UNI Global
  • Mr Bruno Nabagné Koné, Minister of Posts and ICT, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Mr Massimo Vari, Undersecretary of State, Ministry for Economic Development, Italy
  • Mr Binali Yildirim, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication, Turkey

Remarks by Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (via video)

13.15–14.45
Lunch break

15.00–16.30
Third session - The postal sector’s role in fostering economic and social inclusion

Inclusive economic growth in public policies has been high on the international agenda. For example, there has been increased focus on the need to facilitate access to financial services for people not otherwise in a position to open a bank account. What are the benefits and limits of financial inclusion? How can financial inclusion contribute to improving the lives of migrants? Beyond these questions, the discussions will also cover the role Posts and the UPU play in fostering inclusion through trade and the development of efficient addressing systems.

Remarks by H.R.H. Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary - General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (via video link)

Panellists

  • Mr Cezar Alvarez, Vice-Minister of Communications, Brazil
  • Mr Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, India
  • Mr Samuel Poghisio, Minister of Information and Communication, Kenya
  • Mr Harsha V. Singh, Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization
  • Ms Anna Tibaijuka, Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Tanzania, UPU Special Ambassador for the Addressing the world – an address for everyone initiative

16.30–17.00
Coffee break

17.00–18.30
Fourth session - The world in 2020

Building on the discussions of the first three sessions, the panellists will discuss what the world will look like in 2020 in terms of the economy, international relations and technology. Most importantly, the panellists will discuss the role and place of the Post and the UPU in this context.

Panellists

  • Mr Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States of America
  • Mr Marc Furrer, Secretary of State, Head of the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom), Switzerland
  • Mr Takashi MORITA, Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan
  • Mr Robert Kreimerman Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Uruguay
  • Mr Ma Junsheng, Director General, State Post Bureau, China (People’s Rep.)

18.30–18.45
Conclusions

Edouard Dayan, UPU Director General