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NewsDay

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‘Zim supplied a drop to UN procurement agencies in 2015’

Business
ZIMBABWEAN companies only managed to supply goods and services worth $76 million to the United Nations agencies last year, out of $17,5 billion the agencies procured, an indication that local companies are failing to take advantage of the system.

ZIMBABWEAN companies only managed to supply goods and services worth $76 million to the United Nations agencies last year, out of $17,5 billion the agencies procured, an indication that local companies are failing to take advantage of the system.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

ZimTrade, the country’s trade and export promotion body in a report, said the UN offered opportunities for companies to participate in tenders for the supply of a diverse range of goods and services.

It, therefore, urged local companies to participate in the UN tenders.

UN senior procurement officer, Edward Meck said: “Although the UN does the bulk of its mission work in Africa, most of the African tenders are won by companies from developed countries because African companies do not participate in the process.

“However, African companies are subcontracted as local suppliers. I encourage Zimbabwean companies to actively participate in this process.”

According to ZimTrade, Meck emphasised that the UN procurement process was fair and transparent, hence, even the smallest of players should register as vendors and respond to tenders.

Products frequently outsourced include pharmaceuticals, building materials, foodstuffs, motor vehicles, telecommunication equipment, engineering and electronic equipment.

Services that are on demand in UN mission fields include aircraft services, freight forwarding, construction, catering, as well as transport logistics.

Once registered, suppliers are encouraged to be proactive in looking out for requests for quotations and tenders, ZimTrade said.

This year, so far, over 40 companies have successfully registered on the UN suppliers’ list following the hosting of the UNPD vendor briefing and registration seminar held in Harare recently.