
The Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal is a unique organization that brings together postal operators from 41 countries to coordinate their efforts and share best practices. It was established in 1972.
One of the key goals of the union is to promote the development of postal services in member countries. This is achieved through the exchange of information and expertise, as well as the provision of technical assistance.
The union's regional approach to global postal strategy allows member countries to address common challenges and opportunities in a coordinated and efficient manner. By working together, postal operators can reduce costs and improve services.
The union's membership includes postal operators from countries such as the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Portugal.
History
The Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. Its predecessors include the Unión Gran Colombiana, a union of Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia, formed in 1838.
One of the earliest notable agreements was the Lima Convention of 1848, which brought together Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. This was followed by another Lima Convention in 1864, which expanded the membership to include Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Bolivarian Postal Agreement of 1911 marked another significant milestone, with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela coming together to establish a postal union. This agreement laid the groundwork for the South American Postal Congress, held on January 8, 1911, which brought together delegates from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Here's a brief timeline of the postal union's name changes:
- 1911: South American Postal Congress
- 1926: Panamerican Postal Congress
- 1936: American-Spanish Postal Congress
- 1966: Postal Union of the Americas and Spain
- 1990: Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal
Organization and Members
The Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal is a significant international organization that brings together postal administrations from various countries. Its member countries are a diverse group of nations.
Argentina has been a member since 1911, making it one of the founding members of the union. Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador also joined in 1911. Canada joined in 1931, and Haiti followed in the same year.
The union has grown over the years, with Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Uruguay joining in 1921. Peru and Venezuela also joined in 1911.
In more recent times, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten joined in 1993, 1993, and 2014 respectively. Portugal joined in 1990, and Suriname joined in 1978. The United States joined in 1921, and Spain joined in 1926.
Here is a list of the member countries, grouped by year of accession:
- 1911: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
- 1921: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and United States
- 1926: Honduras (initially) and Spain
- 1931: Canada and Haiti
- 1978: Suriname
- 1990: Portugal
- 1993: Aruba and Curaçao
- 2014: Sint Maarten
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Union_of_the_Americas,_Spain_and_Portugal
- https://www.upaep.int/upaep/en/boc
- https://www.upu.int/en/universal-postal-union/about-upu/restricted-unions
- https://postandparcel.info/59791/news/ecuadors-roberto-cavanna-heads-up-upu-union-for-americas-spain-and-portugal/
- https://www.incb.org/incb/en/news/news_2019/strengthening-international-postal-security-within-latin-america.html
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