Monday, August 19, 2024
BME expands international B2B activities for procurement managers
Image Source IHK Dortmund
In 2019, the BME again offered its 9,750 members numerous opportunities to get to know new foreign sourcing markets and suppliers in a targeted manner and to integrate them into their existing procurement structures. “Almost 300 BME member companies took part in the BME's cross-border events in Europe and North Africa in the year coming to an end. We will expand these activities, which are geared specifically to the processes and needs of procurement manager, in 2020,” Olaf Holzgrefe, Head of International Business and Affairs at the BME, announced on Thursday at the 54th BME Symposium Purchasing and Logistics in Berlin.
In 2019, the selection and screening process for foreign suppliers led to a success rate of almost 30 percent in over 2,500 B2B discussions organised by the BME. According to Holzgrefe, participation in the screening process is "initially free of charge for all BME members. Interested companies may obtain non-binding information about the association's planned activities from the International Team of the BME.
Purchasers from all sectors may already choose from more than twelve BME sourcing events each year in the “Direct Material” sector (focal points: construction, metal, plastics and electronics). Holzgrefe: “Due to their flexibility and efficiency, the B2B activities of our association are particularly valuable for procurement decision-makers.”
As in previous years, the BME will continue to focus on the procurement market in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe in 2020. The association wants to set new accents in Russia. In this context, Holzgrefe recalled that at the 52nd Symposium Purchasing and Logistics 2017 in Berlin, representatives of the Eastern Committee - Eastern European Association of German Business, BME and the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce Abroad had already signed a declaration of intent to implement a Russian purchasing initiative for the German economy. In addition, a Maghreb purchasing initiative is planned for the first time in the new year.
Besides, the BME 2020 expands the product groups and, in addition to the direct material, concentrates in future on the areas of innovation, service and IT.
“The megatrends in purchasing, logistics and supply chain management are challenging not only German buyers. Many important procurement markets - from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe to Russia, Asia and Africa - are facing the same task of successfully mastering the technological changes resulting from globalization and digitization,” emphasized Holzgrefe.
In addition, purchasing and the supply chain made an important contribution to economic prosperity as well as more security and cooperation in Europe. They are the most effective bridge-builders between peoples. “However, there is still a lot of untapped potential here to promote political and economic rapprochement between the states,” added Holzgrefe.
For Germany as an exporting nation, even closer economic integration with the international community is also an effective means of counteracting the beginning economic downturn.