The Ministry of Economy and Trade, in partnership with the United Nations System in Libya, organised the UN Suppliers Conference 2025 in Tripoli under the banner, “Empowering the Local Market through Sustainable Partnerships and Procurement.” The conference saw high-level attendance and broad participation from the Libyan private sector.
The event was attended by the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator in Libya, Ulrika Richardson, alongside representatives from UN agencies and a large number of national suppliers and companies.
In his address, Minister of Economy and Trade Mohamed Al-Huaij stressed the vital importance of local suppliers accessing international supply chains, noting that the United Nations offers extensive opportunities across key sectors, including health, logistics, infrastructure, energy, education, and humanitarian services.
The conference’s core objective was to support and empower Libyan suppliers to join the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) procurement platform. This is intended to open up avenues for direct cooperation and partnerships between local companies and UN agencies, consequently fostering economic development and elevating the competitiveness of local products and services.
The proceedings included introductory presentations by UN agencies detailing procurement mechanisms and requirements, as well as a specialised session dedicated to the UNGM portal, covering registration and qualification steps. The conference also facilitated open discussions concerning the challenges faced by Libyan suppliers in international procurement operations, alongside direct networking opportunities between Libyan firms and UN procurement officials.
Concluding the deliberations, private sector participants expressed considerable interest in the opportunities available through the UN system, confirming their commitment to upgrading their administrative, financial, and technical systems to ensure alignment with international procurement standards.
