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Empost on track to implement growth strategy

DUBAI — Director-General, Emirates Post, Abdulla Al Daboos, has said the postal authority recorded rapid progress while implementing its growth strategy for the ongoing year with a focus on diversification. "We began the year on an encouraging note following a record profit of Dh125 million for 2004," he observed.

Latest available statistics reveal that global international letter post volumes dropped by 5 per cent in 2003, however, Arab countries and Empost broke an all-time record in incoming domestic and international mail by registering a growth of 6.7 per cent.

While maintaining this trend, the postal authority handled 1,850,911 pieces of mail in a single day on January 24 this year against the daily year round average of around 500,000 pieces.

A senior official from Empost told Khaleej Times: “Direct marketing is determined to play a major role in business as companies would like to outsource most of their direct marketing needs. Emirates Post has already compiled a database for more than 2.5 million addresses offering a complete direct marketing solution for businessmen."

Emirates Postal Corporation (Emirates Post or Empost) was formed in 2001, following the restructuring of the UAE General Postal Authority with the intention of streamlining the existing postal services in line with global developments.

At present, Empost offers various facilities to the UAE residents. It provides banking services, booking of Air Arabia tickets, payment of Etisalat bills and renewal of Wasel connection with an extra 10 per cent recharge.

Apart from these services, Emirates Post has signed a contract with IntegraScreen as its partner in the UAE Degree Verification Programme. Emirates Post will attend all applications starting from September 3 through its 78 post offices located throughout the country. The cost of this service is Dh500 per application and is inclusive of the Dh10 cost of each envelope.

Empost, in order to raise standards, has also entered into an alliance with global postal corporation companies. Besides this, it offers other opportunities to its customer’s i-e Postcard Millionaire promotion. The weekly draw is very popular and the 2005 campaign incorporated host of new features.

Moreover, Mumtaz Mail charges were reduced and a review of the licensing system governing the dispatch of documents letters and parcels was ordered to introduce more flexibility for movement of mail in and out of the UAE.

At the first World Mail, Express and Air Cargo Middle East and Africa Expo, Al Daboos discussed the expansion plans of Emirates Post. He said: “Emirates Post would acquire its own fleet of aircraft in future to overcome the problem of space shortage on airlines, as mail volumes continue to grow. This would help Emirates Post achieve its aim of becoming a major player in the cargo and freight business. ’’

"The strategy for growth includes automation, increased productivity through smaller staff and adoption of business re-engineering processes were the key factors. The setting up of Electronic Document Centre for handling hybrid mail was a landmark move by Emirates Post," he maintained.

According to sources, Emirates Post is also planning to host an Universal Postal Union (UPU) strategy conference in Dubai next year. The conference will provide an opportunity to postal decision -makers and industry partners to better understand developments in the postal environment as well as find ways to develop a competitive postal infrastructure directed at satisfying customer needs.