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"Selling to UN Agencies"
Procurement Seminar draws large crowd in Montrél

After months of preparation and collaboration with the Federal and Quebec Governments, the World Trade Centre Montréal and the Inter-Continental Hotel played host on October 1 to the first ever UNA-Canada Procurement Seminar, entitled "How to Sell to the United Nations".

The meeting was attended by eighty-six businesses from around Quebec and it provided them with information on how to access United Nations’ markets.

The seminar witnessed the launch of a United Nations Association publication, "Selling to UN Agencies: a Canadian Business Strategy". The book analyses Canada’s UN Procurement performance, provides a profile on the UN system, and informs the reader as to how the UN buys its goods and services. It is particularly useful as a guide for showing the Canadian Business Community how to a develop a strategy that will be successful in securing contracts from the US$ 3.8 billion UN markets. The report was written by Louis Poliquin, a consultant and specialist in the area of United Nations (UN) procurement.

Mr. Poliquin gave an informative talk at the meeting along with representatives from three Quebec businesses that have already reaped the benefits from trading with the United Nations. The Federal Government was represented by speakers from the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Industry Canada. Representatives of the Ministry of International Relations and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Science and Technology spoke on behalf of the Quebec Government.

The Seminar was also enriched by the presence of five UN officials who animated the workshops in the afternoons with their advice and insight. The five representatives, who were all responsible for procuring goods and services for their respective agencies, came from the Inter Agency Procurement Services Office (IAPSO), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office for Project Services(UNOPS), the UN Population Fund (FNUAP) and Purchase and Transport Services (PTS).

Ms. Gillian Martin Sorensen, Special Adviser to the Secretary General for Public Policy, attended the Seminar as a guest of the Association and was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. She presented an interesting speech on the role that Canada has played in the United Nations and the opportunities that are available for Quebec business in selling their goods and services to the UN, its agencies and programmes. Mr. Yves Fortier, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, thanked her on behalf of UNA-Canada for taking the time to come and talk at the Seminar.

The day’s events concluded with a reception generously hosted by the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

With the first Seminar hailed as a success by all those that attended, the Association hopes to be able to organize similar events across Canada.

The publication "Selling to UN Agencies: a Canadian Business Strategy" is currently available in both French and English for $90.00 (the price includes a copy of the General Business Guide that the Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office (IAPSO) produces on an annual basis and which normally retails for US $25). To order the book, interested persons may telephone Joan Broughton at the United Nations Association in Canada, at (613) 232-5751, extension 230, or fax a request for the book to (613) 563-2455.