Speaking about the forthcoming conference, UPU's Deputy Director General, Pascal

Clivaz said: "UPU is proud to hold the conference in Addis Ababa. The views of

ministers and regulators are vital to the future of the global postal sector as

innovative policies and regulations can energize the sector and stimulate

efficiency."

Titled, "Gearing up the postal sector to drive socio-economic development", the

conference will hear from high profile speakers including ministers in charge of the sector, regulatory chiefs, heads of intergovernmental agencies, and other senior leaders.

The two days of panel sessions will include discussions on developing effective policies, encouraging investments in the postal sector, regulation in the age of digital innovation, and the importance of partnerships in sustaining the relevance of the sector.

The conference will take place during UPU's Extraordinary Congress in Addis Ababa,

3-7 September, which is scheduled to discuss the reform of the Union as the spur for encouraging significant changes in the overall postal sector.

In May, UPU released its annual Postal Development Report exploring the relationship between a country's postal development and progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Research, for example, found that postal infrastructure is relatively more resilient than any other national physical infrastructure, as its operations rely primarily on people.