ASEAN postal officials talk unity

The postal industry had undergone drastic changes and regional postmasters needed to work together more closely and share experiences in dealing with them, said the managing director of Pos Malaysia Berhad, Dato’ Syed Faisal Albar.

Albar made the remark at the opening of the 17th ASEAN Postal Business Meeting and the 4th ASEAN Post++ Meeting, which he is chairing, in the central central city of Da Nang.

The meetings are gathering sectoral representatives from ASEAN member countries as well as dialogue partners from mailand China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and South Korea.

Participants discussed issues such as regional e-commerce development, postal savings projects and marketing strategies for express shipping services.

“Mobile phones and the internet have changed the way the public interacts with us,” Albar said.

“Bills are paid over the internet and companies now opt to deliver bills in the form of e-statements. Now, more than ever, I believe we in the postal world need each other,” he said. “There are many areas of co-operation among ASEAN postal organ-isations. We must continuously peruse other viable business alliances and collaborations.”

Participants in the meetings yesterday signed an agreement on the development of an ASEAN international electronic money transfer system.

The ASEAN Postal Business Meeting was established in 1992 for regional postal operators to exchange information and experiences and streng-then collaboration for postal reforms and business development within the bloc. The ASEAN Post ++ Meeting began in 2007 to enhance postal service quality and business efficiency through the broader region.

The success of the 17th ASEAN Summit and other high-level meetings has been significant in driving the formation of the ASEAN Community and creating favourable conditions for postal enterprises to integrate and develop, said Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) Group chairman Pham Long Tran. — VNS