MORE THAN USD 1.7 TRILLION IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE THROUGH REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND THE WTO GPA

­­­­­­­­­­­Kingston, Jamaica: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Philippe Pelletier, Legal Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that USD 1.7 Trillion in value of the market access is available annually under the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). He was speaking during the second day of the Elevate Procurement Conference which is being held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from April 23-25, 2024.

The GPA 2012 is the main international instrument that regulates the conduct of international trade in procurement markets and is a plurilateral agreement within the WTO system. However, not all WTO members participate in the agreement, which at present has 22 parties that cover 49 WTO Members.

According to Pelletier, “Benefits from participating in the WTO GPA/trade agreements with GP chapters are not limited to export market access. In fact, this might not even be the most important aspect”.

“The best part of the agreement is to be an observer, where you will gain access to the operation and administration of the GPA 2012, committee documents that are not accessible by non-GPA Parties/Observers, follow the GPA accession negotiations and receive relevant information and may participate in the committee’s discussions and information-sharing activities, but not in decisions,” Pelletier revealed.

He explained that interested parties can contact the CGP [Committee on Government Procurement] and the WTO Secretariat for support and observer status with no obligation to join the agreement as a party.

Andrei Bennett, Chief Public Procurement Policy Officer at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service believes that this is an opportunity for suppliers to think about.

“Jamaica is not the only market for goods and services. Efficient suppliers can benefit from various contracts in the UK and the EU through the CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreements. Earning government contracts is a great way to increase profits. It’s important to know about all the available opportunities and to go after them,” highlighted Bennett.

The three-day conference is being held under the theme, ‘Elevate: Innovate, Create’ and is hosting over 500 attendees comprising suppliers of goods, services and works, public procurement oversight institutions, and international and regional procurement practitioners, among others.

During this conference, the Office of Public Procurement Policy (OPPP) is determined to raise the standard of public procurement performance and the public’s understanding of public procurement. Additionally, the conference provides a forum for stakeholders to network, share knowledge and experiences and discuss new ideas and innovations.

The conference concludes on Thursday, April 25, 2024, and will feature presentations from Dr Ama Eyo, College Dean of Education at Bangor University and Cheyenne McClarthy, Senior Director, Public Procurement Commission.

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For further information contact:

Corporate Communication & Public Relations Branch

Ministry of Finance and the Public Service

30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston 4

Tel: (876) 932-4656/4660/4655

Email: Shakiel.Rochester-Shorter@mof.gov.jm; Suzell.Wray@mof.gov.j