Help is at hand for SMEs in the West Midlands looking to get a slice of the United Nations’ highly lucrative procurement market – worth about £4 billion a year.
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising a trip for businesses to the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna on October 6-7.
The visit will enable participating companies to have prime access to procurement officers from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation; the International Atomic Energy Agency; the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation; the United Nations Office at Vienna; and OSCE.
Companies joining the business visit will also have the chance to display their products at the British Ambassador’s residence, which will be attended by key procurement officers who will give presentations and advice to delegates, followed by networking opportunities over lunch.
Claire Gamage from UK Trade & Investment’s Birmingham international trade team, who is leading the visit, said: “The average UN contract is worth $25,000-$100,000, making it suitable for all types and sizes of organisations.
"British companies win substantial business in all the agencies and English is the working language. The OSCE is a virtually untapped market in Europe and offers many opportunities for UK companies supplying appropriate equipment or services. In Vienna, the main areas of procurement include computer and office equipment and supplies; a wide range of nuclear, radiation detection, laboratory and field project equipment.”
To book a place on the business visit, contact Claire Gamage at Birmingham Chamber on 0845 603 0084 or email c.gamage@birminghamchamber.org.uk.
