| Robert Hunja, Manager of the Bank’s Procurement Policy and Service Group provided opening remarks and introduced the panelists. Knut Leipold, Senior Procurement Office in the Bank’s Procurement Policy and Service Group, gave an overview of the project. Leipold noted that a harmonization procurement initiative led to the two year development of the e-Government Procurement website. The three goals were to harmonize electronic government procurement, help the multilateral development banks with procurement activities and to help the bank’s clients. He noted overtures have also been made to other development banks in Europe and Africa and the Organization of American States. Leipold said the first step in the project was to create a common understanding of e-government procurement. The benefits include increased transparency and efficiency and reduced opportunities for corruption. Government, suppliers and tax payers are the beneficiaries. He noted government procurement sometimes accounts for as much as 15% of GDP. E-procurement can result in savings up to 20% of that. The work program focused on policy and guidelines, country based work focused on knowledge sharing of lending activities and automated procurement operations. Leipold expressed the hope that the effort would serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and would see increased international participation.
Shengman Zhang, the Bank’s Managing Director, said the new platform would increase transparency, compliance and effectiveness. The key for the future is to ensure its use and increase its participation. Leipold then did a quick overview of the website. Sabine Engelhard, Senior Procurement Specialist of the Inter-American Development Bank, emphasized that harmonization was essential to the e-GP website and strategy. It will reduce cycle times, transaction times and improve compliance and participation. She thought the impact on Latin America would be significant with a savings of as much as $40 billion annually. James Rockett, Resident Director General of the Asian Development Bank’s Washington office, said a recent conference in Manila suggested that the interest in e-procurement was significant.
Rakesh Asthana, Senior Manager with the Bank’s Information Solutions Group, spoke about the co-launching of an e-government procurement thematic group within the Bank. He noted the Bank’s clients have been pressing for greater harmonization. He called the e-GP thematic group a welcome addition to an existing thematic group on e-Development.
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