Chisinau hosted for the first time the Postal Workers' March - now in its 46th edition, which saw the participation of more than 500 postal workers from Romania and 300 from the Republic of Moldova.

The June 24 - 26 event was organised by the Romanian Post Company, through the Romanian Post Foundation, in partnership with the 'Posta Moldovei' State-owned Company, a release informs.

Of the total participants, 84 Romanian and 80 Moldovan postal workers took part in the actual sporting competition - a symbolic moment celebrating performance, endurance and team spirit. The remaining participants were involved in support, organisational and institutional-representation activities, turning the event into a genuine celebration of the postal community, the statement noted.

This year's edition was held under the banner of the centenary of the first airmail and commercial flight on the Bucharest-Galati-Chisinau route, a historic milestone that strengthened communications and ties between Bucharest and Chisinau. Hosting the competition in the Moldovan capital also marks a first in the event's history and a new step in consolidating cooperation between the two postal administrations.

'The Postal Workers' March organised this year in Chisinau is more than a competition - it is a symbol of continuity, cooperation and the ties that unite the postal communities of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. This edition has a special significance, marking one hundred years since the first airmail flight on the Bucharest-Galati-Chisinau route, a historic moment for postal communications and for bringing the two banks of the Prut closer together,' said Romanian Post CEO Valentin Stefan, as quoted in the release.

'Posta Moldovei' administrator Violeta Cojocaru reiterated the importance of cooperation and the friendly relations between the two institutions, stressing that the Postal Workers' March is more than a competition - it is a celebration of the postal profession, team spirit and the people who connect communities every day.

Romania's ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Cristian-Leon Turcanu, highlighted the symbolic role of postal workers in bridging distances: 'History has taught us, residents on the two banks of the Prut, to build bridges between people when stone bridges were hard to cross, and to write letters when distances were too great or words too difficult to say. In the millions of envelopes delivered over time, you have carried letters of life, longing, enthusiasm and joy. You have been - and continue to be - bearers of news and facilitators of public services, building trust and bringing people together.'

With a tradition dating back to 1977, the Postal Workers' March is more than a sporting event; it celebrates a profession essential to connecting people and communities, promoting values such as professionalism, responsibility and solidarity.

The Romanian Post expanded its activity to the Republic of Moldova on December 12, 2022, when it opened its first foreign subsidiary in Chisinau - the company's first operational point outside Romania. The move marked a significant step in its internationalisation and modernisation efforts. The local presence is part of the 'Romania - logistics hub' development strategy, aimed at strengthening commercial and postal flows between the two states and developing a regional logistics node in Southeast Europe.

The Chisinau subsidiary specialises in customs-clearance services, including software development for automated customs processing of postal and e-commerce traffic. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristian Anghelache; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)