Datuk Abu Huraira, Chairman, ASEAN Postal Business Meeting,

 

Mr Lim Ho Kee, Chairman, Singapore Post,

 

Mr Wilson Tan, Group CEO, Singapore Post,

 

Excellencies,

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

Good morning. It is my pleasure to be here this morning for the opening of the 15^th ASEAN Postal Business Meeting.   Let me first extend a warm welcome to all our friends and guests from the region.

3          Developments in information technology will continue to impact on the postal sector. Postal operators will have to innovate and evolve their business models in order to stay relevant, and deliver value for their customers. In addition, more countries have recognised that competition in the postal sector will deliver more benefits for consumers and businesses. Indeed, we have observed a worldwide trend toward greater liberalisation of postal sectors. This too will have important implications for the way postal operators do business in the near future.

 

 

 

4          The uncertain economy, technology change and industry liberalisation are some of the key issues that the postal sector must address. But postal operators need not handle these big issues alone. This is why this year’s ASEAN Postal Business Meeting is timely and important. This meeting provides an annual platform for operators to leverage on each other’s strengths through cooperation and partnerships, to share best practices, and discuss key issues in postal sector reforms and business development strategies. I am happy to note that this forum has also attracted participation from some of ASEAN’s neighbours, namely China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and Korea. The experiences of these countries will add to the richness of the discussions.

 

5          In line with our overall efforts to support the growth of the postal sector in the region, Singapore is honoured to host this Meeting. Singapore has been actively supporting regional collaboration in postal services through ASEAN and other fora. I am pleased to note that Singapore was re-elected to the Universal Postal Union Postal Operations Council at the recent 24th UPU Congress. I would like to thank all of ASEAN and regional members of UPU for your very crucial support. We aim to play an active role in leading discussions on Terminal Dues, Service Quality, and Post Security Action, in order to facilitate the growth of the postal sector in the region.

 

6          I am also happy to note that Singapore hosts, and is an active participant in, the Asia Pacific Post Cooperative^[1], which conducts research and develops projects to enhance the competitiveness of postal services in the region. 

 

7          In addition, SingPost and postal operators from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Korea had contributed US$100,000 to the Regional Quality of Service Fund Project for Registered Articles to enhance the quality of registered mail in the Asia Pacific region. 

 

8          Whether through organisations such as the Universal Postal Union or the Asia Pacific Post Cooperative, let me assure you that Singapore will continue to play our part in promoting regional cooperation, as well as the exchange of ideas and best practices in the postal sector. 

 

 

9          Apart from regional cooperation, postal operators should prepare themselves for competition in their own home markets, even as more national postal regulators are examining their approach towards postal liberalisation. Increasingly, postal regulators are recognising that liberalisation will spur competition and that competition will, in turn, catalyse even better and more differentiated postal services at more competitive prices. This will ultimately benefit the economy and the consumers.

 

10        Last year, Singapore fully liberalised our postal sector. The Basic Mail services market in Singapore was liberalised on 1 April 2007, when the exclusive rights that SingPost had enjoyed for 15 years expired. Earlier, in 1995, we had already liberalised the provision of express letter services. In addition, some market segments, such as the delivery of parcels and publicity materials, have always been open for competition.

 

11        The early signs from the liberalised Basic Mail services market have been positive. The Postal Regulator, the Infocomm Development Authority or IDA, has already issued licences to four new operators^[2] to compete in this market. SingPost, as the incumbent, is providing competing operators access to its delivery network via a Reference Access Offer. I am glad that SingPost has, on its part, responded positively to the liberalisation of the sectors, and to changes in the competitive and technology landscape. I note that SingPost has considerably expanded the range of its activities beyond traditional postal services to include financial services, insurance and other new and innovative services, such as their new Next Morning Delivery and the Internet-enabled ClickPost services^[3]. 

 

 

---