Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Brussels (Belgium), 14 to 20 May 2001

Address by Mr. Thomas E. Leavey,

Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union
14 May 2001

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Honourable Representatives of States and Governments,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to speak today, and eager to continue the dialogue on issues that are of deep concern both to the Least Developed Countries and to the Universal Postal Union.

Since its founding in 1874, the UPU has committed itself to:

• fostering parity among nations;
• safeguarding communications within and between nations;
• recognizing the cultural achievements of nations.

The mission of the UPU is to develop communications among all the people of the world through the efficient operation of postal services, and to contribute to the attainment of the noble aims of international collaboration in the cultural, social and economic spheres.

To achieve this mission, the UPU provides an international forum in which 189 member countries can collaborate on the issues and opportunities their postal services face; share intelligence and technologies; harmonize regulations; and increase efficiency and profitability. Through its actions the UPU promotes, for all member countries,

• universal access to basic postal services by the entire population; and
• continuing postal reform and development.

Serving as an intermediary between businesses and their customers for the exchange of goods, information and services, the Post acts as a wealth creator. It is one of the world's largest employers, with more than six million employees. It is at the heart of the economy, operating the most extensive, network for the dissemination of information and knowledge by physical means and for the transport of goods throughout the world.

As such, the Post has great potential as a force for economic and social development. Yet, LDCs may find that this potential is far from being fully realized. A 1999 UPU study highlighted the gap between developing and industrialized nations. Of 440 billion items posted in 1999:

• more than 80% were posted in industrialized countries, which made up less than 15% of the world's population;
• and less than 20% were posted in developing countries, representing more than 85% of the people in the world;
• on average, a citizen of an industrialized country sent about 420 items a year, while his counterpart in a developing country sent just 17. The average figure for LDCs is even lower than that.

The UPU is committed to helping LDCs to achieve the full potential of their postal services, in order to meet the needs of the national and international business communities and of every single citizen. Each recent UPU Congress has adopted a decision instructing the Union bodies to give special attention to the needs of LDCs. By "attention," we mean not only assistance, but assistance that reflects the practical priority needs of each country, while encouraging greater international parity and communication.

I would like to share with you some of these priority UPU initiatives.

• To operate effectively, the Post must have a strong infrastructure. To build it, the UPU works with LDCs, for example, to:

- develop human and technological resources; and to

- promote universal service.

• The UPU believes that a permanent presence in the field is crucial if we are to carry "development" from theory into practice. To this end, we have established a Regional Adviser programmed which provides specialized representatives to all areas of the globe.

They have helped to implement 67 national and regional projects on behalf of Posts in Laces over the last five years.

• Complementing these regional activities is the Opus’s Postal Development Action Group.

Through this Group, the UPU has initiated contacts with international financial institutions

- from the World Bank to regional and sub-regional banks - and other fund donors to raise their awareness of the need to support postal reform.

In 1999, funds invested in the postal sector by these institutions totaled almost 400 million US dollars, compared with 10 million five years before. Further development cooperation activities will be funded out of the UPU's own resources.

• Also in 1999, the UPU Beijing Congress showed firm resolve to improve the quality of the

international postal network in a lasting way, through the creation of a Quality of Service Fund. This fund, which is set to come into effect in July 2001, will be financed by resources from industrialized countries. It aims to bring additional resources to help developing countries improve the quality of the various components of the international postal service.

The total annual amounts which the Fund will generate are estimated at some 20 million US dollars.

• Underpinning all of these initiatives is the Beijing Postal Strategy, adopted by the last UPU

Congress in 1999. As a blueprint for the future of the international Postal network, the Beijing Strategy provides a means through which all member countries can collaborate in achieving the UPU objectives related to the improvement of the world postal network.

The Post is at the core of international communication - and of everyday life. Ironically, the Post is so "mundane" that we may overlook its power as a force for economic and cultural development and as a means to help narrow the gap between industrialized and developing nations.

The UPU, together with the international community, looks forward to working with LDCs in order to help them meet the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by a world of modernization, globalization and liberalization. I hope that you will join the UPU in recognizing and fostering-this power for change.

In closing, let me also express my organization's strong commitment to the full implementation of the outcome of the Conference, which is a Programme of Action for the period 2001-2010.

Thank you.