Tap United Nations Market, Malaysian Firms Urged

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies have been urged by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) to tap the United Nations (UN) market. "There are many member countries of the United Nations. Malaysian exporters have huge opportunities for supplying their products, and they should look into this market," Dzulkifli Mahmud, Matrade Senior Director, Exporters Development Division, said at a Matrade seminar on "Doing Business with the UN" Wednesday. The seminar aims to brief Malaysian companies on the values, policies, buying profile and business opportunities of the United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD). Malaysian companies could supply their products and services to the UN for use in countries hit by disasters, he said. Dzulkifli said in 2011, UNPD procured US$14 billion worth of products and services ranging from air transportation services, architecture, engineering and construction related services, chemical and petroleum products and food rations and catering services. "Malaysia is ranked 77th in supplying to the UN with a value of US$200,000 accounting for 0.01 per cent of the total share," he said, adding 41 Malaysian companies have registered with UNPD and have supplied medical and pharmaceutical products, food, and logistics and catering services. UNPD oversees the contracts for the acquisition of a wide variety of goods, works and services for the UN Headquarters, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations HQs and peacekeeping missions, the Office Away from Headquarters, the UN Tribunals and commissions worldwide, and other organisations seeking procurement support services. It is the largest buying resource in the UN system. There are 193 UN member states, including every internationally recognised sovereign state in the world except Vatican City. -- BERNAMA