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The Arab Postal Regulation Forum 2026 kicked off Sunday in Doha under the theme Postal Sector Reform in the Arab Region: Enabling Innovation, Competition and Sustainable Digital Trade.The two-day forum, the first of its kind in the Arab region, is hosted by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) in co-operation with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Regional Office for the Arab Region in Doha.The forum provides a platform for dialogue and exchange of regulatory experiences and practices, contributing to enhanced regional co-operation and supporting efforts to develop the postal sector across the Arab region in line with international best practices and UPU standards.**media[494086]**"Qatar is proud to host the first edition of the Arab Postal Regulation Forum, reflecting its commitment to strengthening Arab co-operation and developing frameworks for co-operation among postal regulators and policymakers,” said CRA president Eng. Ahmad bin Abdulla al-Muslemani.“The forum comes at a time when the sector is undergoing significant transformations driven by rapid technological developments and changing market and consumer needs,” he said. “This requires the adoption of more flexible and efficient regulatory frameworks that keep pace with innovation, foster competition, and strengthen trust in postal services.”“We look forward to the forum’s work resulting in the ‘Doha Recommendations’, serving as a shared Arab reference that supports the development of postal regulation, enhances the sector’s readiness to keep pace with rapid technological and economic transformations, and reaffirms our collective commitment to building a more efficient, innovative and sustainable postal sector,” the official said. Sheikha Noor bint Hassan al-Thani, manager of the UPU Regional Office for the Arab Region in Doha, said: "The Arab Postal Regulation Forum provides an important opportunity to bring together policymakers and regulators from across the Arab region to exchange expertise and discuss the shared priorities and challenges facing the postal sector.”Over the two days, the forum will feature discussions on key regulatory issues facing the postal sector, including licensing and market access, competition in digital postal markets, consumer rights and quality of service, complaints handling, transparency, data protection and privacy.The forum will also discuss the future of universal postal service, including accessibility, affordability, digital inclusion and sustainable financing models.Held within the framework of the UPU regional project on postal policy and regulation in the Arab region (2026-29), the Forum is expected to conclude with the "Doha Recommendations”, which are intended to identify priority actions at the regional level, strengthen future co-operation, and support the development of postal regulatory frameworks across the region. 

Britain and Switzerland agreed a trade deal on Monday ​that they said would ‌boost their services industries and let workers in finance and other sectors travel ‌visa-free in each ⁠other's territories for ‌up to 90 days a year.Britain said ‌the deal could boost exports by £5.2bn ($7bn) a year with its enhancements ⁠on services and digital trade."This is the most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated," British Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said. "It will bring huge benefits to British business and consumers."Total bilateral trade would increase by around 7.9bn Swiss francs ($9.76bn) per year in the long run, equivalent to a 25% uplift, the British embassy in Switzerland said.The deal built on the ​previous Free Trade Agreement between the two countries which was carried over when Britain left the European Union and already covered most trade in goods.As well as reciprocal 90-day visa-free travel for ‌services professionals each year, the deal ⁠also allows UK ​businesses to transfer staff to offices in Switzerland for up to five ​years without needing to pass Swiss economic tests.Under the agreement, both sides aim to scrap mobile roaming fees and, in a separate arrangement, UK nationals will soon be able to use e-gates when entering Switzerland.Britain has sealed post-Brexit free trade agreements with India, Gulf countries and South Korea since the start of last year. It has also claimed some successes in talks on trade with the United States and the European Union.Switzerland has been pushing hard to expand its base of free-trade agreements since the shock of suffering the highest US tariffs in Europe ‌last year when US President Donald Trump ‌set a 39% import duty ⁠on Swiss products.Earlier this month, Switzerland and the other members of the European Free ⁠Trade Association announced they had ⁠concluded negotiations with Vietnam on a free trade agreement.Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who is also Switzerland's economy minister, said at an event with Kyle in Bern that in a world of "growing protectionism and tariffs coming from all sides" the accord benefited both countries, securing reliable conditions for businesses to operate in. "And having predictability, ultimately, is essential," he told reporters. "Without legal certainty, ​investments slow down."Asked about disagreements reported by Politico over intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry during talks, Parmelin said the deal safeguarded the high levels of protection already applied by both countries.This includes 10 years of regulatory protection for products intended for human use, he noted.The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) welcomed the commitment to a "strong and proportionate IP regime", adding that "this message of stability helpfully underpins our efforts to drive more investment in both countries."Once legal formalities have been finalised, the aim is to have the agreement ‌signed by the ​end of 2026, Switzerland said. 

The Shura Council participated in the parliamentary session as part of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Public Forum titled 'Promoting Multilateralism Through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments' organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the European Parliament, the session brought together parliamentarians and legislators from around the world, as well as representatives from the digital industry.HE member of the Shura Council Issa bin Ahmed al-Nasr represented the Council at this two-day event, which concluded at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The parliamentary session discussed the contributions of parliamentarians and their role in formulating digital technology policies that promote inclusive growth and global cooperation, as well as modernizing trade governance.The session also highlighted the responsibilities of parliaments in designing legislation that supports cross-border digital trade, ensures equitable access for all, and reinforces the multilateral framework in an economy that increasingly utilizes digital technology.

The Shura Council participated in the parliamentary session as part of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Public Forum titled "Promoting Multilateralism Through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments" Organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the European Parliament, the session brought together parliamentarians and legislators from around the world, as well as representatives from the digital industry. His Excellency member of the Shura Council Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr represented the Council at this two-day event, which concluded today at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The parliamentary session discussed the contributions of parliamentarians and their role in formulating digital technology policies that promote inclusive growth and global cooperation, as well as modernizing trade governance. The session also highlighted the responsibilities of parliaments in designing legislation that supports cross-border digital trade, ensures equitable access for all, and reinforces the multilateral framework in an economy that increasingly utilizes digital technology.