Korean firms to expand cooperation with U.N.

Representatives from Korean companies and officials from the United Nations Procurement Division gathered in New York to discuss expanding future business relations at the inaugural “2015 U.N.-Korea Procurement Day.”

The event was held on Wednesday and Thursday and cohosted by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the U.N.

It brought together 20 Korean companies, including Hyundai Motor Co., from diverse sectors and put officials in contact with people from the UNPD and other U.N. bodies who are in charge of procuring supplies from global vendors.

“The UNPD hopes that Korean companies, equipped with excellent technologies, will actively work toward expanding their businesses with the United Nations,” said Dmitri Dovgopoly, UNPD director, on Wednesday.

Sessions aimed to introduce Korean companies to the UNPD and other U.N. bodies throughout the two-day event, including workshops explaining procurement policies and processes at different U.N. organizations, one-on-one meetings between representatives from Korean companies and U.N. officials, and other networking events. 

“Hyundai Motor Co. aims to take this opportunity to partner with the U.N. and improve the brand’s standing globally,” said a Hyundai representative attending the event.

Hyundai reportedly joined the event to gain information about new business opportunities with the UNPD and market trends. Since supplying around 100 minibuses to the UNPD in 2009 and 2010, the automaker has not held further business relations with the U.N. body, according to the company’s PR spokesperson.

“This event acted as a significant bridge for connecting major UN bodies ― such as the UNPD, UNICEF and UNDP, which receive more than 50 percent of all procurement to the U.N. ― with Korean companies seeking business opportunities with the U.N.,” said Shin Hwan-sup, executive vice president for SME Support at KOTRA.

“KOTRA will continue to provide full support to help Korean companies to enter the U.N. procurement market,” Shin said.

In 2014, the UNPD’s total purchase orders were valued at about $3.2 billion, with “air transportation services,” “chemical and petroleum products” and “food rations and catering services” listed as the most-purchased commodities by the international body, according to recent statistics by the UNPD.

By country, the U.S. was the biggest supplier to the UNPD, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and the United Kingdom as of 2014, according to the data.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)