South Korea’s Public Procurement Service is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KOTRA and the United Nations Development Programme to help Korean companies pursue Syria’s estimated $216 billion reconstruction market. A briefing on the 24th drew 70 companies and covered Syrian economic and financial conditions, UNDP recovery projects, procurement opportunities and registration through the United Nations Global Marketplace. The reconstruction effort is expected to include roads, power, water and sewage systems, hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure. With financial institutions maintaining conservative transaction practices and international remittances still restricted despite sanctions easing last year, international-organization procurement is being presented as a lower-risk entry route than direct investment. Officials also outlined the Global Public Procurement Market export consultations planned for November, a consultative body for firms seeking U.N. procurement contracts, and one-on-one support aimed at moving companies from supplier registration to bidding and contract signing.