The 24th Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress, currently in session in Geneva, has elected the UAE to two important councils for 2009-2012, marking a significant victory for the Emirates Post Group delegation.

The UAE is now the member of the 40-member Council of Administration (CA) and the 40-member Postal Operations Council (POC). The UAE was already a member of the CA for the past four years.

The CA’s role is to ensure continuity of the UPU’s work between congresses, supervise its activities and study regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues. The Council approves the biennial budget and the accounts of the Union.

The POC deals with technical and operational issues. It promotes the introduction of new postal products and makes recommendations to member countries concerning standards for technological, operational or other processes.

Its agenda includes helping postal services to modernize and upgrade their products.

“Getting elected to the two most important bodies of the UPU is a great honour for the UAE. It reflects the UAE’s growing reputation as a modern and progressive nation devoted to contributing to global issues,” said Abdulla Al Daboos, president of Emirates Post Holding Group.

“It also represents a victory for our delegation that worked hard to win the two posts. Emirates Post now has a greater responsibility towards the development and upgrading of postal services,” said Ibrahim Bin Karam, CEO of Emirates Post.

“Both the councils consist of several developed countries as well as developing countries. Emirates Post is confident of making meaningful contribution to the development of postal services, with a special focus on the Arab world,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Congress formally announced that the next UPU Congress would be held at Doha in 2012. The Congress is held once in four years. This will be the 25th congress in the history of the UPU.-TradeArabia News Service