Korea’s sales to UN reach high

Korea’s sales to United Nations organizations reached a new high last year of $174.6 million, a year-on-year increase of 125 percent. Korea now accounts for 1 percent of UN purchases.

According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, which analyzed an annual report published by the United Nations Office for Project Services, Korea ranked 25th of 227 vendor countries in exports to the UN Secretariat Procurement Division, which supplies UN offices, projects and peacekeeping missions. About 90 percent of Korean exports to the UN was goods rather than services, mostly drugs, medical equipment and construction materials. It sold some administrative, shipping and design services as well.

The trade agency said it would help the service sector expand its presence by connecting local companies with UN procurement officials and business networks in developing countries that depend on the UN for support.