Telecommunications Ministry on postal service

The Russian Telecommunications Ministry has worked out a concept for the development of the Russian postal market through 2010, Senior Deputy Telecommunications Minister Alexander Kiselyov announced at a meeting of the Federation Council's commission for information policies today. The Deputy Minister noted that the government would consider this concept on June 11, 2003. He noted that the concept was targeted at providing Russian citizens with universal postal services and at making postal agencies attractive for investors. Currently, the volume of postal services totals $1bn, with federal postal services accounting for 80 percent. According to estimates of the ministry, this figure will increase to $3bn by 2010. The official stated there were some serious problems in the postal sector, such as extremely long delivery terms, i.e. up to 20 days compared to one day in the EU. Kiselyov believes that this sector requires more efficient state support.