The United Nations:Benefiting the U.S. Economy

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.

1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWSuite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036

Phone: (202) 462-4900Fax: (202) 462-2686

www.BetterWorldCampaign.org

• Capital Master PlanThe 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. Con-

struction 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 OperationsIn 2010, the U.S. received $188 million in procurement for UN

peacekeeping operations. This went to support 15 UN peace-

keeping 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 CityNew York City benefits greatly from the daily business of UN

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 at-

tending UN conferences held in New York infuse millions into

the City’s economy; the annual opening of the General As-

sembly 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.

Examples of UN Specialized Agencies that Support American Interests

The UN helps U.S. businesses compete in the global market-place 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 broadcast-ing 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 regu-lations for international mail systems and promotes affordable basic postal services in all territories. By facilitating postal ser-vice across the globe, the UPU enables Americans to conduct business everywhere, from London to Timbuktu.

Procuring American Goods and ServicesIn 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;

Southfield, MI; Morrisville, NC; and Miami, FL – provide reliable goods and services that the UN utilizes

to advance its various missions.

The table below shows a sample of American companies – which include Ford, Caterpillar, and CISCO

– that contracted with the UN in 2010. These procurement contracts stem from the Capital Master Plan,

Secretariat operations, and field missions.

The UN Supports the U.S. Economy by Buying American Goods and Services

Sample of U.S. Vendors to the UN

U.S. Company Headquarters Procurement Amount Goods/Service

Skanska USA Building Inc.

Ford Motor Company (Global Fleet Sales Inc.)

Caterpillar

Terex Corporation

CISCO Systems Inc.

American Power Conversion

Helpern Architects

Fisher Asset Management LLC

Doosan Infracore America Corp.

Lenovo, Inc.

World Fuel Services Corporation

Whitestone, NY

Southfield, MI

Peoria, IL

Westport, CT

San Jose, CA

West Kensington, RI

New York, NY

Redwood City, CA

Suwanee, GA

Morrisville, NC

Miami, FL

$290,689,713

$115,989,202

$18,337,697

$13,975,768

$9,252,293

$9,196,344

$8,829,626

$7,500,000

$7,298,932

$4,937,058

$2,144,731

Construction management, infrastructure

Light trucks, vans, and buses, heavy duty utility vehicle

Engineering equipment

Mobile cranes

Equipment and accessories for connecting electronic data processing equipment in to networks

Un-interrupted power supply (UPS) equipment & high density cooling system

Construction administration phase, design development phase, construction documents

Investment management services

Industrial forklifts

Micro-computers, software packages, printing and plotting devices

Aviation fuel

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the groundbreaking ceremony of the United Nations Capital Master Plan (CMP)

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.

Breakdown of UN economic benefits to the U.S.:

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.

UN Secretariat economic benefits to the U.S. per year based on latest figures available:

UN Secretariat Procurement from U.S. in 2010: $832 million

Economic benefit to NYC: $3.3 billion

Estimated benefit to the U.S. in one year: $4.13 billion

U.S. Contributions to the UN Secretariat:

U.S. to UN Regular Budget in 2010: $516 million

U.S. to UN Peacekeeping in 2010: $1.887 billion

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