09 November 2015
Visiting minister seeks EPG's assistance in developing Somali postal services

Dubai: A delegation from Somali Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications recently visited Emirates Post Group and reviewed the progress of a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier between the two sides.

H.E. Guled Kassim, Minister of Posts & Telecommunications, Somali Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, who was accompanied by Mr. Omar Abdulaiz, Consul of Somali Consulate in Dubai, held discussions with senior EPG officials -- Emirates Post CEO Abdullah Alashram and CEO of EPG Postal Operations Sultan Al Midfa.

He expressed confidence that Emirates Post Group could play a key role in facilitating the delivery of mail to and from Somalia, as the country continues to rebuild its postal network, after several years of unrest.

The Minister's visit was a follow-up to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Somali Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, and Emirates Post Group in April 2013. According to the MoU, the two sides agreed to work in partnership to assist in the delivery of mail to and from Somalia, by making Dubai the main mail sorting hub.

Speaking to EPG officials, H.E. Guled Kassi briefed them on the improving socio-economic situation in Somalia after several years of unrest, and said a lot remains to be done to restore the country's unused postal infrastructure. He said reviving the parcel service was a priority. He revealed that the new mandate of the Ministry was to treat post as business. He expressed the hope the EPG would play a more active role in helping bring normalcy to postal operations in Somalia.

Abdulla Alashram assured the Somali Minister that Emirates Post was fully committed to helping Somalia normalise its postal network and offered its full support in streamlining the movement of mail between Somalia and UAE.

The two sides agreed to take the MoU forward through the steering committee that was formed to follow up the implementation of the MoU.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Anthony Francis (Corporate Communications, Emirates Post Group).
Tel: 04 2303145

© Press Release 2015