The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has welcomed the decisions adopted by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) at the end of its ‘2nd Extraordinary Congress’, enhancing cooperation and collaboration across the global postal sector and in particular, strengthening the postal sector in Qatar.

A high-level delegation headed by CRA president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai represented Qatar and contributed to the decision-making process. The congress, the only ‘Second Extraordinary Congress’ in UPU's 144-year history, was attended by over 1,000 people over the five-day event and included a ministerial conference. 
The key decisions taken at the congress included the Integrated Product Plan (IPP), designed to develop a fully-integrated portfolio of physical postal products (letter post, parcel post, and express mail service EMS), with the exception of mandatory tracking. 
For mandatory tracking, members of the congress agreed to adopt an implementation roadmap for the IPP, and instructed the UPU's operational body Postal Operations Council (POC) to keep pace with changes in the marketplace by modernising services, including developing proposals on the tracked service for the 2020 Congress. 
“Qatar's participation in finalising these decisions at this important event for the postal sector globally has been inherently valuable considering the best regulatory environment for the sector in the country and to ensure that it reaches its full potential. 
“Not only did the congress present us with an opportunity to consider the best policies, investments, regulations, and partnerships but also to have a role actively shaping its future on a global level,” said al-Mannai.
Member countries also adopted all the proposals that came through the various bodies within the UPU on changes to simplify the election procedures at POC and provide improved regional representation. 
The Extraordinary Congress also approved a compromise proposal on the Integrated Remuneration Plan (IRP), which is designed to modernise, rationalize, and integrate the postal remuneration systems of member countries. 
Concerning UPU contributions, member countries agreed on a landmark decision to reduce the contributions provided by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, reform of the overall contribution system was carried over to the 2020 Congress. 
On the topic of remuneration, which has been the subject of much discussion and debate in recent months, there was an agreement to use the IRP as a roadmap for a sound proposal on an Integrated Remuneration System to be presented at the 2020 Congress. 
The UPU is a UN-specialised agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital of Berne. Established in 1874, it is one of the world’s oldest international organisations and is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.