UNDP offers practical insights to Korean private sector on doing business together through procurements

July 30, 2021

View the recording in English and Korean.

21 July 2021, Seoul- UNDP’s Seoul Policy Centre hosted a webinar on “Doing Business with UNDP/UN through Procurement Opportunities” in partnership with Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korea G-PASS Company Export Association. The webinar aimed to demystify UNDP’s procurement process by providing practical information to Korean private sector companies on how best to access opportunities to provide technologies, solutions and services to countries with development needs.

With its mandate to end poverty and reduce inequality globally, UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories to connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources, including that of the private sector, to help people build better lives.

UNDP procurements can provide companies with opportunities to reach the global market. Armed with competitive products and services, an increasing number of Korean companies are looking into this growing business opportunity. United Nations procurements have been steadily growing in value, reaching a total USD 22.3 billion in 2020 - a 12% increase from 2019. As of 2020, a total of 2,522 Korean companies are registered in the United Nations Global Marketplace, supplying to 23 UN organizations including UNDP. In 2020, the total UN procurement value supplied by Korean companies marked USD 239.05 million, a figure that grew by 6% from the previous year.

“The Korean business community has a wealth of innovative technologies, solutions and services to offer, which can support initiatives aiming to overcome the complex development challenges countries face around the world,” noted Dr. Anne Juepner, acting Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre. “I hope that today’s sharing of examples and know-how on UNDP procurements will help understand better how UNDP buys goods and services, and how we can successfully work together,” she said.

In the webinar, Dr. Bakhtiyor Khamraev, Team Lead of the UNDP Procurement Services Unit, provided a snapshot of the UNDP procurement market and invited Korean companies to actively contribute to this growing market. The session featured step-by-step guidelines on how to submit bidding documents. In addition, key information on Korean government's support to companies was provided by Ms. Vicky Kim, head of the Business Division from G-PASS Association. The Korea International Trade Association also encouraged the Korean business community to enter new markets by tapping into the opportunities offered by UNDP and the wider United Nations development system.

Presentations

Bakhtiyor Khamraev, Team lead, Procurement Services Unit, Bureau for Management Services, UNDP Global Shared Service Center (Malaysia): Doing business with UNDP through procurements
Note: The examples and sample documents shared in this presentation aim to help businesses understand the general procedures of UNDP procurements and may not apply to all procurement opportunities. Therefore, for each bidding opportunity, it is important to follow the instructions and requirements in the actual tender documents.

View presentation in English

Vicky Kim, Head of Business Division, Korea G-PASS Company Export Association: How to participate in UN procurement opportunities & Korean government’s support for businesses seeking these opportunities

View presentation in Korean

Related Resources:

UNDP Procurement Notices (English)

Video Guide on How to Register a Bidder Profile on eTendering (Korean subtitles)