UN procurement officials speak face-to-face with local business leaders in Ningbo. (Photo by CCPIT Ningbo)

“Doing business with the United Nations is not as out of reach as it seems,” said Lu Yingzhen, General Manager of Southeast Wind (Zhejiang) Cross-border Supply Chain Co., Ltd. “Having UN procurement officials right at our doorstep didn’t just help us understand their catalogs and bidding rules; it also cleared up all our questions about qualification and certification on the spot.”

Lu was among the many local business leaders who found immense value at the 2026 UN Agencies Special Procurement Needs Matchmaking Event, held in Ningbo on April 28.

The United Nations procures tens of thousands of goods and services annually to support its global peacekeeping missions, humanitarian aid efforts, and sustainable development projects. At the event, UN officials sat down face-to-face with Ningbo manufacturers to explore direct supply chain cooperation.

This year marks the culmination of a three-year cooperation agreement between Ningbo, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE). Thanks to this partnership, a growing number of Ningbo enterprises are learning how to navigate, participate in, and benefit from the UN’s massive procurement network.

To date, over 600 Ningbo-based companies have successfully registered as suppliers on the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM). Their products span 13 major categories, ranging from medical devices and solar photovoltaics to building materials, stationery, and furniture.

“From hosting the UN International Procurement Seminar to establishing the first-ever China Pavilion at the International Exhibition for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in Geneva, the vision of leveraging China’s manufacturing prowess to address global challenges is starting right here in Ningbo and becoming a reality,” noted James George, Acting Resident Representative of UNDP in China.

While geopolitical tensions have disrupted global supply chains this year, they have also created significant opportunities for Ningbo’s agile manufacturers to step up as reliable UN suppliers.

Senthil Kumar Subramani, Head of Procurement for the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in the Asia Region, highlighted the scale of these opportunities: “We expect our procurement volume to reach $1.3 billion this year, covering 352 projects across 94 countries. This includes a $64 million health project in Uzbekistan and a $40 million medical equipment tender in Guatemala.”

To further facilitate these global connections, three new UN project liaison offices were officially launched in Ningbo’s Yinzhou and Jiangbei districts, and Cixi City during the event, ensuring local businesses have on-the-ground support.

Moving forward, Ningbo plans to institutionalize this matchmaking process, building a comprehensive support system to help local companies secure long-term, stable international orders. The city’s ultimate goal is clear: to establish itself as China’s core supply-demand hub for UN procurement, a strategic base for global emergency supplies, and a benchmark for sustainable international cooperation.