To mark the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the 2014 revision of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA 2012), the GPA committee is presenting a public program on October 9 (2:00-5:00 pm Geneva time). It will look back on the achievements of the GPA and consider how the benefits of the Agreement can be extended into the future. It combines insights from architects and implementers of the revised GPA and the challenges and opportunities provided by the revised GPA. For more details and to view the program on YouTube, see the WTO GPA event site.
The GPA program will begin with remarks by the WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the current chair of the GPA Committee, Martin Zbinden, and be followed by two panels.
The first panel on “The history of the GPA 2012” includes negotiators who shaped its revision and successors who have implemented its changes. It will explore the evolution of the GPA, highlighting how it broadened market access, increased transparency, and fostered fair competition. US Ambassador to the WTO María Pagán will moderate the panel.
The second panel on “Harnessing the benefits of the GPA 2012 for the future” will examine the benefits of GPA membership, including the opportunities afforded by the increased market access provided by the revised GPA. It will also consider the Agreement’s increased focus on good governance and how governments can give greater priority to governance in public procurement, including through enhanced transparency and anti-corruption measures. Former Switzerland’s former ambassador to the WTO, Didier Chambovey, will moderate the panel.
UPDATE: A summary of the event and a recording of it, are available on the WTO site.
Jean Heilman Grier
October 7, 2024