Renault-Nissan Alliance held its annual purchasing conference in Seoul this week, opening new opportunities for local parts makers, Renault Samsung Motors Co. said Thursday.

The conference, held Monday and Tuesday by Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization that oversees purchasing and quality control of parts for Renault and Nissan operations, is customarily held at the headquarters of Renault or Nissan at the beginning of a year to finalize the companies’ purchasing strategies for the year, the company said.

This year, however, Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization dispatched key purchasing executives, including head of the organization Christian Vandenhende to Korea, hinting at intentions to increase purchases from Korean parts makers, Renault Samsung officials said.

The company also said that the visiting Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization executives will stay in Korea for about a week to visit Renault Samsung’s suppliers.

According to Renault Samsung, Renault-Nissan Alliance’s purchases from local firms has increased rapidly in recent years rising from 32 components from 28 companies in 2009 to 377 parts produced by 82 companies last year.

In terms of value, local firms’ sales to the carmakers came in at 12 billion won ($10.7 million), which jumped to 69 billion won in 2010.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)