28 June, Shanghai – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and their partners today launched the ‘Knowledge Sharing, Capacity Building and Supporting Service Programme on Sustainable Procurement of UN/International Organisations’. The project will help businesses align their procurement services with sustainable best practices and promote decarbonization as part of China’s 2060 net zero emissions target.

In particular, the project will support Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and women owned businesses to enhance their ability to participate in international organizations’ procurement processes and access the UN procurement market. These businesses have traditionally suffered from a lack of information and support, limiting their participation.

“The project we are launching today will aim to level the playing field for SMEs and women-owned businesses through knowledge sharing and capacity building, said Devanand Ramiah, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China. “We look forward to continuing our work with China to accelerate SDG achievement by supporting procurement practices that are both green and inclusive.”

Together with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) of China’s Ministry of Commerce, Shanghai Qingpu District Government and Shanghai Glorious Investment Development Co. Ltd, the project will establish a platform for international procurement services. The platform will host training sessions, seminars, support services and develop networks to promote low-carbon engagement with the international procurement market.

“This outstanding project we have developed with our partners is a great example illustrating how by working in strong partnership we can jointly address challenges in international public procurement.” said Simonetta Siligato, UNOPS China Officer in Charge.

“The UN procurement project launched in Shanghai Qingpu District aims to serve not only China, but Asia,” said Zhang Yi, CICETE Acting Director General. “By establishing a platform, the project will promote information sharing, exchanges, and cooperation, and also cultivate a group of willing, capable and reputable UN direct sourcing suppliers and talent. The project also provides a supporting system for integrated services such as collective bidding, business, logistics and finance.”

With the support of the Shanghai Qingpu District Government this project aims to establish long-term relationships and build a cluster of procurement services in the region. It will also act as a pilot for similar initiatives in other countries and help to achieve the broader objective of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The project launched today will significantly increase the direct participation of enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta and even the whole country in UN procurement,” said Jian Xu, Deputy Party Secretary and Acting Govenor of Qingpu District. “It will also direct more high-quality resources to the UN procurement. It is a win-win project that promotes the social welfare."

Hui Zhao, Chairman of Shanghai Glorious also stated, “in a global environment, any organization, enterprise, group, or individual needs to be more open and inclusive; only with the common development of human society, can every local enterprise in the world have a long-term development.”

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For more information, please contact: Yue Zhao, yue.zhao@undp.org