• Capital Master Plan The Capital Master Plan is a five-year project to renovate UN headquarters in New York by updating building and fire safety codes so that they comply with current standards for security, energy efficiency, and accessibility. Construction began in 2008 and U.S. companies have been awarded 80 of the 82 contracts – a total investment of $1.7 billion in the U.S. economy over five years. As part of our assessed dues, the U.S. will contribute $377 million to the $1.95 billion total project budget. Consequently, for every dollar the U.S. puts into the Capital Master Plan, it gets back $4.50.
• UN Peacekeeping Operations In 2010, the U.S. received $188 million in procurement for UN peacekeeping operations. This went to support 15 UN peacekeeping missions, which currently have more than 120,000 troops and personnel deployed around the globe, making it the second largest deployed military force in the world. American companies are on the ground in places like Haiti, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Liberia supporting these critical peacekeeping missions by offering telecommunications lines, information technology services, earthmoving machines, and building materials.
• New York City New York City benefits greatly from the daily business of UN
Examples of UN Specialized Agencies that Support American Interests The UN helps U.S. businesses compete in the global marketplace by establishing international standards and regulations in telecommunications, aviation, shipping, and postal services, which in turn create baselines that ensure security and efficiency in international commerce. • International Telecommunications Union: The ITU supports radio communication by creating standardized systems for mobile and satellite communication, satellite navigation, and broadcasting around the globe. It is vital to U.S. businesses as it enables them to access cell phone coverage in the developing world. • International Civil Aviation Organization: This UN agency enables safe air travel everywhere by setting global standards for navigation, communication, and airline safety. These standards map out airspace jurisdiction and establish “free range” airspace over oceans and seas. ICAO and the U.S. together set strict international regulations for limiting environmental degradation, standardizing biometric passports for all member states, and improving cross-border security. They also cooperate to conduct safety audits that monitor and enforce airline safety standards. • International Maritime Organization: The IMO contributes to the U.S. business sector by setting safety standards for the international shipping industry and guidelines for preventing maritime pollution. Standards promulgated by IMO are central to the U.S. economy because 90 percent of all international trade is carried on ships. • United Nations Universal Postal Union: The UPU sets regulations for international mail systems and promotes affordable basic postal services in all territories. By facilitating postal service across the globe, the UPU enables Americans to conduct business everywhere, from London to Timbuktu.
headquarters; the UN is an “enormous economic enterprise” whose revenues come from national governments around the world, but are spent largely in New York. A past estimate put New York City’s annual economic gain from having the UN headquartered there at $3.3 billion. In addition, visitors attending UN conferences held in New York infuse millions into the City’s economy; the annual opening of the General Assembly session alone is comparable to a major international convention or sporting event. Moreover, this type of annual conference is not affected by economic recessions, so these large expenditures will be made each year, which can be especially beneficial in a down economy. Finally, New York City benefits greatly from tourism - the UN hosts an average of over 1 million visitors in New York every year, providing business to local hotels and restaurants.
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: (202) 462-4900 Fax: (202) 462-2686 www.BetterWorldCampaign.org
The Better World Campaign (BWC), an initiative of the Better World Fund, works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations through outreach, communications, and advocacy. It encourages U.S. leadership to enhance the UN’s ability to carry out its invaluable international work on behalf of peace, progress, freedom, and justice. In these efforts, BWC engages policy makers, the media, and the American public to increase awareness of and support for the United Nations.
The United Nations: Benefiting the U.S. Economy
For more than six decades, the United States’ engagement in the United Nations has clearly supported U.S. foreign policy goals. Less obvious is the fact that the U.S derives significant economic benefits from that engagement, through UN procurement of American goods and services and economic returns to local New York businesses. In fact, for every $1 invested by the United States in the United Nations Secretariat, our nation receives over $1.60 in return.
The UN Supports the U.S. Economy by Buying American Goods and Services
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the groundbreaking ceremony of the United Nations Capital Master Plan (CMP)
Procuring American Goods and Services Breakdown of UN economic benefits to the U.S.:
In 2010, the UN Secretariat bought $832 million in goods and services from American companies. In fact, more than 3,500 U.S. headquartered companies – with locations as diverse as San Jose, CA;
UN Secretariat economic benefits to the U.S. per year based on latest figures available:
Southfield, MI; Morrisville, NC; and Miami, FL – provide reliable goods and services that the UN utilizes
UN Secretariat Procurement from U.S. in 2010: $832 million
to advance its various missions.
Economic benefit to NYC: $3.3 billion
The table below shows a sample of American companies – which include Ford, Caterpillar, and CISCO
Estimated benefit to the U.S. in one year: $4.13 billion
– that contracted with the UN in 2010. These procurement contracts stem from the Capital Master Plan,
U.S. Contributions to the UN Secretariat:
Secretariat operations, and field missions. Sample of U.S. Vendors to the UN
U.S. to UN Regular Budget in 2010: $516 million U.S. to UN Peacekeeping in 2010: $1.887 billion
U.S. Company
U.S. to the Capital Master Plan (as pledged in 2010): $75 million Estimated U.S. contribution to the UN Secretariat: $2.478 billion 4.13 ÷ 2.478 = $1.66
While the U.S. contributes $2.478 billion to the UN Secretariat, we receive $4.12 billion in economic benefits from the UN. This means that for every dollar the U.S. pays, we receive more than $1.60 in return.
Headquarters
Procurement Amount
Goods/Service
Skanska USA Building Inc.
Whitestone, NY
$290,689,713
Construction management, infrastructure
Ford Motor Company (Global Fleet Sales Inc.)
Southfield, MI
$115,989,202
Light trucks, vans, and buses, heavy duty utility vehicle
Caterpillar
Peoria, IL
$18,337,697
Engineering equipment
Terex Corporation
Westport, CT
$13,975,768
Mobile cranes
CISCO Systems Inc.
San Jose, CA
$9,252,293
Equipment and accessories for connecting electronic data processing equipment in to networks
American Power Conversion
West Kensington, RI
$9,196,344
Un-interrupted power supply (UPS) equipment & high density cooling system
Helpern Architects
New York, NY
$8,829,626
Construction administration phase, design development phase, construction documents
Fisher Asset Management LLC
Redwood City, CA
$7,500,000
Investment management services
Doosan Infracore America Corp.
Suwanee, GA
$7,298,932
Industrial forklifts
Lenovo, Inc.
Morrisville, NC
$4,937,058
Micro-computers, software packages, printing and plotting devices
World Fuel Services Corporation
Miami, FL
$2,144,731
Aviation fuel