The Universal Postal Union and the International Trade Centre have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand digital trade and e-commerce opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies, and least developed countries in particular.
The agreement was signed in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Summit on the Information Society by Masahiko Metoki, UPU director general and Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC executive director.
The partnership will leverage the UPU’s global postal network alongside ITC’s expertise in trade capacity building and SME development.
Under the agreement, the UPU and ITC will cooperate across five priority areas: strengthening trade and investment support institutions in developing countries; improving market intelligence and addressing non-tariff measures; facilitating trade along regional corridors, with a focus on Africa; promoting financial inclusion through postal financial services; and expanding digital trade capacity-building for SMEs, including women-led and youth-led enterprises.
Masahiko Metoki, UPU director general, said:
‘For more than 15 years, the UPU and ITC have worked together, including alongside UNCTAD as co-facilitators of the WSIS action line on e-business. Today, we are taking that partnership further to help SMEs and women entrepreneurs connect to regional and global markets through the extensive reach of the postal network.’
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC executive director said:
‘When small businesses – the backbone of the global economy – have the tools, networks and support to tap into the digital economy, they becomes drivers of sustainable growth. With the UPU, we will extend the benefits of digital trade to the last mile, connecting entrepreneurs in even the most remote communities to global markets.’
The agreement provides a flexible framework for cooperation, with specific programmes and initiatives to be developed jointly.
