South African companies urged to be more active in bidding for UN tenders

Officials from the United Nations Procurement Division have urged South African companies to register and bid for billions of dollars worth of tenders issued each year by the organisation, especially as South Africa is ideally located to be a supplier to UN missions on the continent.

Delivering the opening address at the UN Procurement Summit in Pretoria on 24 June, defence minister Thandi Modise urged the South African defence industry to come together and pursue the opportunities the UN is offering. She said the industry underrates itself, and reminded the sector that the Department of Defence depends on the industry. “You become important to us as the industry because without you we are unable to do our business as a country involved in contributing troops.”