Workshop aims to educate vendors on global marketplace

THE United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) hosted a vendor workshop on March 12 which saw participation from FAO key service providers in Port Moresby, National Capital District.
The workshop was facilitated by FAO international procurement officer William Manuel at the FAO office.
The purpose of the workshop was to inform the relevant suppliers in PNG about the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) and to register the vendors in UNGM for tendering purposes and to facilitate development of long-term agreements (LTA) between FAO and service providers including other UN agencies.
“With the high demand of engagement from local suppliers, FAO invites suppliers to register in UNGM which is a mandatory requirement in order to participate in FAO’s tender bids and also UNGM enables vendors to keep abreast of upcoming tender notices,” Manuel said.
He said UNGM facilitates the exchange and sharing of vendor information within the UN system, as information was made available to all UN organisations.
The UNGM also acts as an important procurement tool to shortlist suppliers for competitive bidding and is the common procurement portal for the United Nations system.
“The UNGM, acts as a single window through which potential suppliers may register with the UN system. These vendors account for over 99 per cent of the total UN procurement,” he said.
“The UNGM, therefore, provides an excellent springboard to introduce the supplier’s products and services to many UN organisations, countries and regions through a one-time registration.”