Think globally but act locally

Today, globalisation is driving the process of interaction between people, societies, economies and states. Many companies are expanding their operations beyond traditional borders to see sales of their products and services grow throughout the world as a result of effective marketing strategies.

The postal sector, too, is influenced by this trend towards globalisation. Some established postal services are setting up their operations in other countries, preparing for what they predict will be a completely liberalised market in a few years. Others are forming alliances with private operators that have a global presence in order to expand the reach of their services, increase revenues and improve service.

But how does the Universal Postal Union view globalisation in the postal sector? And what can postal administrations do in the face of increased competition on the domestic and international fronts?

On the one hand, postal administrations that attempt to establish a global presence are demonstrating that the postal service can compete as effectively as any other business in a global environment.

In many cases, such an approach is leading to a revitalised postal industry by improving the quality of certain services or allowing the postal entity to gain market share. I would even say that postal administrations competing against each other is not inherently bad, since competition often leads to greater efficiency and better service.

On the other hand, not every postal administration is necessarily able to compete on a global scale in the same manner that others do. But I believe each and every national postal service can adopt a global perspective by acting locally to meet the communication needs of its domestic and international customers.

The UPU itself is a global institution because it ensures the exchange of mail and parcels to the citizens of all countries in the world. This was the concept of the "single postal territory", which was enshrined by the founding fathers of the UPU in its constitution.

The UPU, in fact, was the only truly global inter-govemmental organisation when it was founded in 1874 and it remains today a global force, contributing to the economic and social development of all its member countries.

The obligation to serve all citizens, whether they live in cities or remote rural areas, is central to the concept of "universal service", which was incorporated in the UPU's Convention and Regulations at the 1999 Beijing Congress. Adherence to the principle by all UPU members provides the basis for the global character for mail exchange between the UPU countries.

The UPU also manifests its global presence through its activities to improve the quality of service throughout the world postal network. In addition, its efforts to enhance or develop products and services, as well as to establish a worldwide electronic network for tracking and tracing postal items, reinforces its global mission.

In order to assist all member countries to upgrade their services and to provide the most effective management structures at the national level, the UPU also provides assistance to developing countries in their efforts to strengthen or reform their services.

This enables them to play their proper role in the globalised postal sector. Although the economy is increasingly global, social and political institutions remain local, regional or national.

Therefore, governments, which must ultimately ensure the right of citizens to have access to postal communications, are concerned that the UPU provide leadership and direction in helping to see that this obligation is fulfilled. Postal administrations are also grouped together, under the umbrella of the UPU, into restricted unions, which help to implement programmes and projects at the regional level. The postal sector thereby integrates its activities, through the UPU, at the national, regional and global levels.

Finally, the essential mission of every postal administration is to provide quality service at a reasonable cost in its own country. This responsibility will continue to be the primary objective of every member of the UPU, regardless of the increasing globalisation. By guaranteeing this objective at the national level, postal services are reinforcing their solidarity and influence at the global level.

As we celebrate World Post Day, we should keep in mind that all countries in the UPU are committed to strengthening postal services in the context of the new global environment.

Unless globalisation provides physical, social and economic progress, it will be judged to have failed. Postal services of the world are in a unique position, through their impact on people's daily lives, to contribute significantly to the opportunities delivered by globalisation.

Mr Leavey is director general of the International Bureau, Universal Postal Union