United Nations Procurement Day offers opportunities to build global networks

•PMBC’s matchmaking event connects Michigan businesses to export markets •Michigan’s first-ever UN purchaser-supplier event on Thursday

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan-based businesses will gain access to the expansive global network of purchasers that support the broad range of United Nations initiatives during the first-ever UN Procurement Day in Michigan.

The networking and matchmaking summit is a collaboration between Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and Michigan Economic Development Corporation international trade team. The event will be held Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the GEM Theater, 333 Madison Avenue, Detroit.

Each year, nearly $18 billion is spent by the United Nations and its affiliate organizations to support worldwide programs administered by the UN Procurement Division, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Food Program, among others. More than $3 billion is spent with companies in the U.S. to support UN-related programs around the world, which represent a significant opportunity for qualified Michigan companies.

Thursday’s UN Procurement Day focuses primarily on opportunities for Michigan-based suppliers in aerospace, agriculture, automotive, construction, defense, engineering, health care and technology.

“For small- and medium-sized businesses, this is a strategic way to explore and secure new work both domestically and globally,” said Ryan Michael, director, PMBC, which has facilitated more than $7 billion in new contracts since 2011 among local, national and global purchasers. The impact of those contracts can be measured in approximately 32,000 Michigan jobs in 25 industries.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for Michigan businesses to understand how UN-affiliated organizations post, distribute and solicit responses,” he said. “Further, this is a clear way for suppliers to know the UN’s current needs and what needs they anticipate in future contract tenders.”

In addition to Michael, speakers at UN Procurement Day include:

• Adenike Akoh, Strategy, UN Procurement Services Unit, Bureau of Management
• Divya Mehra, health service provision coordinator, UN World Food Program.
• Samuel Ocran, senior contracts manager, UNICEF Supply Division
• Simon Darnell, procurement officer, Infrastructure Support Team, UN Procurement Division
• Alan James De La Torre, vehicles team, Field Procurement Service UN Procurement Division

PMBC has developed and organized more than 150 matchmaking activities since 2013 with nearly 600 purchasers from 27 countries around the globe. Some of these activities have been among the largest, single-day, industry-focused matchmaking activities undertaken by the State of Michigan. The result of PMBC summits, searches and tours has resulted in more than $343 million in contracts and purchase orders to Michigan-based businesses and more than 11,000 buy-supply connections.

PMBC collaborates with U.S. Commercial Service/International Trade Administration, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Small Business Administration and others to participate in meetings to educate Michigan-based suppliers on how to be competitive in the global market.  PMBC has participated in international delegations to Canada, Mexico, Europe and more to help deepen relationships with the international marketplace and identify potential partnership avenues for Michigan companies.

At PMBC’s 2018 Aerospace Summit, PMBC recruited more than a dozen international purchasing firms to join 15 Michigan-based purchasing firms looking to expand their global supplier network with qualified Michigan talent.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.