May 4, 2022 Results of Talks between Mr. KANEKO, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and Mr. METOKI, Director-General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

On May 3, Mr. KANEKO Yasushi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, during his visit to Switzerland, held talks with Mr. METOKI Masahiko, Director-General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). They reached an agreement on the maintenance and reinforcement of the cooperative relationship between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the UPU, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation between them.
Under the leadership of Mr. Metoki, who assumed the office of UPU Director-General in January this year, MIC will support the implementation of specific projects in UPU member countries based on this MOU and contribute to further development of the postal sector throughout the world.

1. Background

In order to promote the implementation of projects in UPU member countries, including projects for enhancement of disaster risk management in the postal sector, MIC has provided financial assistance to the UPU in the form of voluntary contributions since 2010.
Mr. Kaneko visited the UPU, taking the opportunity of Mr. Metoki's assumption of the office of its Director-General. With the aim of achieving further development of the postal sector throughout the world under the leadership of Mr. Metoki, Mr. Kaneko reached an agreement with Mr. Metoki on the maintenance and reinforcement of the cooperative relationship between MIC and the UPU, and signed a MOU on cooperation between them.

2. Major areas of cooperation

Projects under the MOU are expected to be implemented in the following areas.

• Enhancement of disaster risk management (e.g., holding workshops for training disaster risk management specialists)
• Use of cutting-edge technology, such as digital technology
• Promotion of financial inclusion initiatives
• Contribution to measures to cope with infectious diseases
• Enhancement of climate change initiatives

In order to support the implementation of these projects, MIC will contribute approximately 260 million yen to the UPU in FY2022.

3. Support for the postal sector in Ukraine

In order to support the postal sector in Ukraine, Mr. Kaneko also agreed to provide contributions to the Emergency and Solidarity Fund (ESF)* in the form of voluntary contributions from MIC to the UPU (100,000 Swiss francs or approximately 13 million yen).

• *
  A fund set up by the UPU to provide emergency support to its member countries affected by natural disasters or other factors.