Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (KCCI) President Muhammad Haroon Agar has urged the United Nations for positive consideration and registration of KCCI members and Pakistani companies to extend trade opportunities.
In his welcome address at joint seminar on brainstorming for registration of Pakistani Companies with United Nations being organized by KCCI and United Nations Procurement Division at KCCI Saturday to capture the Pakistan’s share and to further explore trade opportunities, he voiced that the business obtained by Pakistani companies in the UN is much less than their actual potential and procurement business of Pakistan with the UN could be increased with regular outreach to our business community and registration of efficient and reputable Pakistani business concerns with the UN procurement Division. As far as trade potential of Pakistan is concerned, he stated that Pakistan can export high quality diversified products.
He also urged that the existing number of Pakistani vendors should be enhanced particularly with regards to UN supplies to Afghanistan, and to peacekeeping, political and specialized economic missions in Asia and Africa because Pakistan is very much ideal place to ship the goods out of here as compared to other countries. More importantly, Pakistan having border links with Afghanistan we can save shipping costs as well, he maintained. He said that the presentations and guidelines for registration of companies with UNPD will be uploaded at KCCI’s website to facilitate its members.
Earlier, President KCCI welcomed the Chief Guest of the seminar Dmitri Dovgopoly, Director, United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD) and expressed compliments, to United Nations’ Team and appreciated UN’s peacekeeping, political, specialized and economic missions rendering their services around the globe. He apprised the Director UNPD about the vital role of KCCI for promotion of trade and business activities in Pakistan and abroad.
He said that it was third joint seminar of KCCI & UNPD to facilitate member and Pakistani vendors for registration. He said that Pakistan being member of United Nations, an emerging economy and developing Nation and strong ally on war against terrorism truly needs specialized international assistance with regards to trade and business.
Dmitri Dovgopoly, Director United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD) expressed gratitude to President KCCI for organising the seminar on the request of UNPD. In his presentation he enlightened that the UN Procurement Division conducts procurement for the UN Headquarters in New York, for peacekeeping, political missions, tribunals and commissions functioning in the countries all over the world. He informed that the UN system procured goods and services worth US$ 14276 million in 2011 out of which goods were $7066 Million while services were worth $7210 Million. Procurements made out of Pakistan in 2011 were $8.6 Million and in 2012 $4.1 Million.
Director UNPD highlighted that currently many Pakistani companies are fully registered with the United Nations Procurement Division, however, more companies should register to capture more share from Pakistan.
He elaborated about the working of UN-Procurement Division and informed that UNPD procures goods and services for UN organizational entities viz. fund programmes (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP etc), specialized agencies (WHO, FAO etc), and UN Headquarters/ Secretariat. He appreciated the facilitation of KCCI to invite Pakistani companies/ KCCI members, to register in UNPD, while qualifying requirements of financially stable and ISO certified and able to meet the procurement requirements.
He said that UNPD procurements of In respect of services were Air Charter Services, Security Services, Engineering Services, Construction, Freight Services, Consultancy Services, Telecommunication Services. While the major items procured as goods were Food, Pharmaceutical Supplies, Vehicles, Computers and Software, Shelter and Housing, Telecommunications Equipment, Laboratory Equipment, Chemicals (POL), Building Materials etc. He stated that the mandatory registration of vendors with UN is absolutely free but subject to compliance of UN’s requirement. He also gave overview about United Nations procurement system, UN Global Impact and the hierarchy of United Nations.
