Locations2026 Sustainable Procurement & ESG Workshop: Empowering SMEs and Women-Owned Businesses to Connect with International Sustainable Development
May 12, 2026
Ningbo, China, 28 April 2026 - The 2026 capacity-building series under the "Empowering SMEs and Women-Owned Businesses to Accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals in Ningbo" project kicked off with the "Sustainable Procurement & ESG Workshop" in Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
Co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Ningbo Committee, the workshop brought together UN entities, government partners, academic institutions, industry associations and enterprises to help local businesses better understand sustainable procurement, ESG requirements and international public procurement opportunities.
The event was supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges of the Ministry of Commerce, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products, and CCPIT Cixi. Representatives from the UN Global Compact, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, and the global humanitarian aid and development expo in Geneva (AidEx), and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Ningbo also attended. The workshop attracted around 300 Chinese and international participants, including representatives from more than 150 companies from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and beyond.
Focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable procurement and emerging procurement trends, the event aimed to connect local enterprises with global sustainability standards. It injected new momentum into helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses in Ningbo and the Yangtze River Delta integrate deeper into the global sustainable development system.
Xu Xiaochang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ningbo Municipal People's Government, Delivering His Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
In the opening remarks, Xu Xiaochang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, noted that Ningbo has a strong industrial and trade foundation, with more than 11,000 industrial enterprises and more than 30,000 foreign trade enterprises. More than 550 companies in the city have registered as UN suppliers, covering sectors such as medical devices, photovoltaics, building materials, and stationery. He said this has strongly supported Ningbo’s SMEs and women-owned businesses in aligning with international sustainable development standards.
James George, UNDP China Resident Representative a.i., Delivering His Opening Remarks via Video
In video remarks, James George, Resident Representative ad interim of UNDP China, noted that ESG principles are not only a compliance exercise, but a strategic necessity. He encouraged SMEs and women-owned businesses to integrate ESG and sustainable production practices into their operations, positioning themselves as partners in global progress and contributors in building a greener, more inclusive future for everyone, everywhere.
Ai Yinfang, Deputy Director General of CICETE of the Ministry of Commerce, Delivering Her Remarks
In her remarks, Ai Yinfang, Deputy Director General of CICETE of the Ministry of Commerce, said that enterprises’ participation in UN procurement offers a concrete example of how Chinese manufacturing services can become more deeply integrated into the international public service system, while also contributing to the implementation of the the Global Development Initiative.
Zhou Hui, President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products, and Li Yingzhong, Vice Mayor of Cixi, also delivered opening remarks.
Technical Presentations
Senthil Kumar, Senior Procurement Manager for the UNOPS Asia and the Pacific Region, outlined UNOPS’ regional procurement priorities. He encouraged local SMEs and women-owned businesses to proactively connect with international sustainable development standards, strengthen their capacity, pay closer attention to areas such as renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, and integrate more deeply into the UN sustainable procurement system.
Senthil Kumar, Senior Procurement Manager for the UNOPS Asia and the Pacific Region, Delivering His Remarks
Yerden Suttenov, Procurement Officer at the UNDP Kazakhstan Country Office, shared key examples of sustainable development projects in the region, covering climate change, inclusive economy, digital transformation, and other areas. He also emphasized future procurement trends and core procurement principles.
Yerden Suttenov, Procurement Officer at the UNDP Kazakhstan Country Office, Delivering His Remarks
Ling Yun, Procurement Officer in the Supply Management Service at UNHCR Headquarters, introduced UNHCR’s approach to building a greener and more sustainable supply chain.
Liu Ben and Li Lekana from the UN Global Compact China Liaison Office shared practical cases on how “Empowering Enterprises Enhance International Competitiveness through ESG Value.”
Additional insights were shared by Dr. Song Huimin, Director of the Global Case Centre at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China; Nicholas Rutherford and Iska Meyer-Wendecker from AidEx, ; and Zhou Fang, Vice President of the Ningbo Women Entrepreneurs Association. Together, their presentations offered practical guidence for SMEs and women-owned businesses seeking to align with international sustainable development and procurement standards.
Q&A and Exchange Session
The Q&A and exchange session were practical and lively. Representatives from UNDP, UNOPS, UNHCR, the UN Global Compact, and AidEx, set up consultation tables and answered companies’ questions face to face.
Participants Taking Part in the Q&A Session
Medical Products Session
In the afternoon, a dedicated salon on “UN Procurement and International Public Procurement Capacity-Building Salon for Health Products” brought UNOPS teams together with experts from UN agencies, industry chambers, and tendering and procurement sector for direct exchangeswith participating companies.
Discussions covered UN procurement processes for medical devices and related products, current procurement needs, preparation of qualification documents and practical challenges faced by suppliers. This session helped companies move beyond general awareness of procurement rules toward more concrete bidding preparation and reflected UNOPS’ emphasis on practical, supplier-based capacity building.
By combining policy guidance, technical exchanges and practical sector-specific support, the Sustainable Procurement and ESG Workshop helped create new channels for SMEs and women-owned businesses in Ningbo and the Yangtze River Delta to engage with international sustainable development frameworks and global public procurement opportunities. The workshop marked a further step in supporting more inclusive, sustainable and internationally connected local enterprise development.
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