Doha, Qatar: The Universal Postal Union (UPU) Regional Workshop on Operational Efficiency and E-Commerce Development (ORE3) was convened in Doha.
The event was hosted by the UPU Regional Office in collaboration with the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) and Qatar Postal Services Company (Q-Post), as part of the plan to execute the ORE Project, as listed in the UPU Regional Development Plan 2022-2025.
The workshop positioned itself as a platform for reinforcing regional cooperation and sharing expertise in the areas of readiness for e‑commerce, postal innovation, and risk management mechanisms, with broader participation from representatives of postal sectors in the Arab nations.
It discussed the breakthroughs made in executing the ORE Project, alongside novel methods to optimize operational and postal risk management mechanisms in national postal enterprises.
The workshop was structured around two key themes, representing the fostering of capabilities among relevant operators in effectively supporting e‑commerce systems and advancing robust risk management frameworks that ensure business continuity and provide reliable postal services capable of addressing challenges.
Advanced technical topics were also addressed, including assessing the impact of ORE on postal service performance, integrating digital and financial systems to facilitate cross‑border operations, and improving monitoring and evaluation mechanisms using UPU tools such as the Global Monitoring System and the Integrated Quality of Service Reporting System.
In addition, the workshop, held ahead of the upcoming UPU strategy cycle (2026-2029), is considered a concluding step in the ORE Project implemented by UPU to support member countries in advancing their operational and digital infrastructure and keeping up with rapid transformations in the e‑commerce sector.
The project was laser-focused on improving operational efficiency in postal supply chains, streamlining customs clearance, and reinforcing collaboration between postal, customs, and logistical entities to ensure the provision of prompt, secure, and reliable services.
The final workshop constituted a springboard for a new project, during which the outcomes achieved throughout its implementation were reviewed, in addition to the lessons learned, pending the setup of a new regional action plan for the upcoming cycle.
This would contribute to the enhancement of postal and digital integration and support the pivotal role of the postal sector in developing e‑commerce and the digital economy in the Arab region.
