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From food products and logistics services to digital technology and consultancy, opportunities for Indonesian businesses to enter global procurement markets are growing rapidly. While many Indonesian companies qualify to become suppliers to the United Nations, they make up only 0.7% of global procurement through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM).To increase that share and support potential suppliers, the government – with support from the United Nations in Indonesia – earlier this month organized the International Procurement Connect seminar in Jakarta. Close to 100 businesses participated in the event.As part of Indonesia’s broader efforts to strengthen globally competitive and inclusive public procurement ecosystems, National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP), organized the seminar to support the global competitiveness of Indonesian suppliers and expand their participation in international procurement ecosystems. The initiative reflects Indonesia’s ongoing public procurement reforms led by LKPP, including digitalisation, transparency enhancement, and broader supplier participation.For many participants, the event offered something practical and often difficult to access: a clearer understanding of how international procurement actually works. The United Nations system procures around $20 to 25 billion worldwide through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) annually. In 2024, Indonesian businesses accounted for around $192 million billion or 0.7% of spending. UN suppliers include PT Mega Global Food Industry (MGFI), which produced high energy biscuits for the World Food Programme’s response in Afghanistan. “Indonesia already has many products and services with strong global competitiveness. What Indonesian businesses often need is greater access to information, networks, and understanding of international procurement systems,” said Muhammad Aris Supriyanto, Deputy for Strategic and Policy Development, at LKPP.From navigating tender requirements to registering on the platform, this seminar provided businesses with step-by-step guidance on positioning themselves for international opportunities. Sessions covered vendor registration processes, procurement standards, required documentation, and how companies can improve their competitiveness in global bidding processes.One of the sessions that drew strong interest from participants focused on the technical process for vendor registration on the UNGM platform and testimonies from Indonesian companies that have previously worked with UN agencies. During the testimonial session, business representatives shared candid experiences about participating in international tenders, challenges encountered, and the benefits gained after becoming UN vendors. PT Dimensi Prima Global shared how its contracts with UN agencies, including UNICEF, opened opportunities to compete for so called Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with UNICEF Indonesia and participate in tenders across Southeast Asia. Although the company was not successful in securing contracts in other countries, it was pre-selected to submit samples of wooden dolls (educational materials) for a tender in Timor-Leste, indicating promising potential to access regional markets. The experience also strengthened the company’s credibility and positioned it more competitively for future opportunities with other international organizations.The growing push for more inclusive supply chainsBeyond business opportunities, the seminar also highlighted growing interest in advancing inclusive procurement. Across the UN system, procurement is increasingly approached not only through the lens of efficiency, transparency and value for money, but also through Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) considerations. The discussion acknowledged that building a truly inclusive procurement ecosystem remains a work in progress. While participation of women-owned businesses has gained stronger traction in many procurement initiatives, expanding opportunities for businesses led by persons with disabilities, youth-owned enterprises, and suppliers from underserved areas remains more challenging due to structural, market, and accessibility barriers. Strengthening more inclusive supplier ecosystems, therefore, requires continued collaboration, learning, and gradual system improvements across organizations.“We aim to ensure that procurement opportunities are accessible to a wider range of businesses—including MSMEs, women-led enterprises, businesses led by persons with disabilities, and new market entrants. Expanding participation is essential to ensuring that the benefits of development are shared more broadly,” said Matthew Johnson-Idan, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Indonesia. “As global markets become increasingly interconnected, initiatives like this are helping Indonesian businesses see international procurement not as something distant or inaccessible, but as a real and growing opportunity.”