Minister Silvio Schembri participates in UPU Strategy Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri participated in a Strategy Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, organised by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). This event was an integral component of the annual extraordinary congress of the UPU.

The high-level event brought together ministers, CEOs and postal sector leaders to discuss the future of the postal sector, which falls under the remit of the Economy Ministry. Representatives of the Malta Communication Authority, which is Malta’s postal sector regulator, were also present for this summit.

Under the theme, People, Purpose,

Progress – The Next Chapter of the Postal Sector, the summit delved into a broad spectrum of challenges and prospects. Topics encompassed the burgeoning e-commerce sector, the pivotal roles of data and emerging technologies and innovative solutions to enhance sectoral efficiency. Additionally, participants deliberated on the responsibilities incumbent upon governments and regulatory bodies in fostering an environment conducive to postal sector innovation and the harnessing of emerging opportunities.

This summit not only facilitated knowledge exchange but also provided an ideal platform for networking and bilateral engagements. During the summit, Minister Schembri held bilateral discussions with influential stakeholders and private investors in Riyadh. The objective was to explore collaborative initiatives between Malta and Saudi Arabia, two nations with a longstanding history of excellent bilateral relations since 1975. Malta’s remarkable economic growth and Saudi Arabia’s progress in diversifying its economy and enacting transformative reforms were key points of discussion during these productive dialogues.

As part of this visit, Minister Schembri also toured an exhibition showcasing several major projects currently underway in Saudi Arabia. The permanent secretary of the Economy Ministry Ronald Mizzi and Malta’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Clive Aquilina Spagnol accompanied the minister throughout this visit.