The 4th UPU Extraordinary Congress opened in Riyadh on 1 October 2023.

The Extraordinary Congress, which is a plenipotentiary meeting of the UPU's 192 member countries, will decide on several key proposals aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for international postal services.

The inaugural event was opened by UPU International Bureau Director General Masahiko Metoki, who expressed his deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Director General also emphasized that the proposals presented at this week's Extraordinary Congress reflected the views of the majority of UPU member countries.

Further welcoming remarks were made by the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of Saudi Post Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

Ministers, heads of postal regulators and heads of postal companies will take the opportunity to meet in Riyadh to discuss the UPU's future strategy for 2026-2029 during the UPU Strategic Summit on 4 and 5 October.

The UPU Congress is being attended in a hybrid format by representatives of the Communications Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth Communications Administrations: the Republic of Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the RCC Executive Committee.

One of the main topics under discussion at the UPU Extraordinary Congress is how the organization can expand its cooperation with wider postal sector players (WPSPs), which include private companies and partner organizations outside the network of postal operators designated by the UPU government. Proposals under consideration at the extraordinary congress aim to find ways in which WPSPs can be better integrated into the UPU context to provide a truly universal and efficient service through the UPU network.

Member-States also consider the organization’s approach to developing postal financial services. These proposals are aimed at overcoming the challenges posed by rapid changes in the market, as well as expanding the role of postal services in facilitating global financial inclusion for the more than one billion people who still lack access to banking services.

The Extraordinary Congress will also build on the UPU Congress 2021 resolution on the postal sector's action to combat climate change. Member-States will consider proposals for voluntary emission reduction targets and climate change commitments, capacity building initiatives and opportunities to collaborate with the WPSP on climate initiatives.

The 4th Extraordinary Congress of the UPU will continue its work until 5 October 2023