Siem Reap, August 13, 2024 — Cambodia is hosting the inaugural Asia-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) Executive Council Meeting in Siem Reap, marking a significant milestone in the country’s engagement with the international postal community. The five-day event, running from August 12 to 16, 2024, has drawn participation from 24 out of the 32 member countries of the APPU, as well as representatives from the Global Postal Union, regional postal communities, postal cooperatives, and observers from various countries.

Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth presided over the opening ceremony, alongside distinguished guests including Masahiko Metoki, Director General of the Global Postal Union, and Vinaya Prakash Singh, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Postal Union.

The meeting serves several key purposes:

- Monitoring the implementation of tasks mandated by the decisions of the General Assembly.

- Establishing operational rules for international postal services between member countries.

- Maintaining and strengthening relations with the postal administrations of member countries.

- Reviewing and approving the annual budget plan.

- Liaising with relevant institutions within the regional and global postal sectors.

- Organizing meetings to facilitate the exchange of views among member countries in the region ahead of the General Assembly of the Global Postal Union.

During his speech at the opening ceremony, Minister Chea Vandeth emphasized the importance of enhancing postal network connectivity, digitalizing postal services, and integrating environmental sustainability into postal operations. He also highlighted the need for capacity building among postal staff to adapt to evolving technologies and user demands, as well as the importance of fostering partnerships with stakeholders to drive innovation and service improvement.

Cambodia has been a member of the Global Postal Union since 1951 and joined the Asia-Pacific Postal Union in 1997. The Global Postal Union currently includes 192 member countries, while the Asia-Pacific Postal Union has 32 member countries.