Israel's sale of goods, services to UN doubled in recent years

The UN and its agencies’ procurement in goods and services is worth more than 15 billion dollars a year. This includes a variety of things from paper cups to water desalination systems.

By DANIELLE ZIRI
Updated: AUGUST 20, 2016 23:55
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addresses the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations (photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addresses the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations
(photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
NEW YORK – The United Nations has acquired goods and services from Israel totaling $91.8 million in 2015, double the amount it spent on Israeli products two years ago.
In 2014 the UN had purchased from Israel for $69.8m. and in 2013 the number had totaled at $45m. This year’s total places Israel 40th out of the 193 member-states when it comes to procurement from the UN, according to a report released by the world body.
“Even the UN understands that Israel is the ‘Start-Up Nation’ and that Israeli goods and services of [the country] are of the highest quality in the world,” Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said.
“We will continue to promote the Israeli economy and assist and encourage our companies to work with the UN procurement offices,” he added.
The UN and its agencies’ procurement in goods and services is worth more than $15b. a year. This includes a variety of products, from paper cups to water desalination systems.
Some 29 percent of Israeli goods purchased by the UN were medical equipment; 17.6% were fuel and lubricants; and 17% were IT and communications equipment. The UN also bought laboratory and testing equipment as well as domestic appliances and electronics from Israel among other things.
As far as Israeli services are concerned, the UN paid Israel mostly for management and administrative services – 31% of the services purchased – as well as transportation and storage services, which make up for 18% of the Israeli services it received.
Other services included building and maintenance, public order and security as well as land and structures, among others.
“It makes us proud when blue and white products are purchased and I call on Israeli companies to increase their dealings with the UN,” Danon said.
He added that Israel’s procurement potential at the United Nations is growing every year and that the Israeli mission to the UN works to ensure that it continues to do so.
According to the UN report, the United States is the country that supplied the most to the United Nations and its agencies in 2015, with a total of $1,647.12m. It is followed by India, with $1,277.03m. and the United Arab Emirates with $805.14m.
The top 10 countries supplying the UN system in 2015 also include Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, France, the UK, Kenya and Afghanistan.
The total UN procurement value for Arab countries in 2015 was $217.6m.