Contacts: In Dhaka: Mehrin A. Mahbub (880-2) 8159001, mmahbub@worldbank.org In Washington: Erik Nora (202) 458 4735, enora@worldbank.org Dhaka, October 26: Efficient use of resources in public procurement requires skilled professionals at procuring entities combined with well informed bidding community and policy makers. Encouraged by recent success in making legislative and policy changes in the country’s public procurement system through new Act and Rules, the Government of Bangladesh has undertaken further initiatives to consolidate its reform efforts to institutionalize procurement management capacity. As continuity of the training courses under the recently closed procurement reform project, this first “Three-Week Training Course on Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services” under the second reform project, with the World Bank’s technical assistance concessional lending, further demonstrates government commitment to make its reform sustainable. The trainees from four key target agencies (RHD, LGED, BWDB, and REB) along with participants of other possible organizations will gain insights to conducting procurement professionally, matched with good procurement practices through the residential training course starting today. “The path in procurement reform is extremely arduous, but is worth travelling considering its pay-off in the long run to the economy. Bangladesh has distinctively positioned itself in this effort.” said Zafrul Islam, Acting Country Director, World Bank Bangladesh“To use public resources efficiently, Bangladesh must now focus in institutionalizing procurement management capacity, and it has rightly initiated so through this extensive capacity development effort”. Misuse of public resources through inappropriate bidding practices or corruption not only affects economic growth, but also has a significant negative effect on the investment climate. This and the coming training programs would be key to improve procurement management practices in the public sector, utilizing the professional skills of officials dealing with public procurement. There are several courses starting with three-week intensive residential course for public procurement officials of key four target agencies and other agencies to short courses for bidding community, auditors, policy-makers, and other relevant stakeholders including overview for the members of parliament. Today’s event to start the first three-week course thus is seen as a milestone and starting point that will continue for over four years. For more information on the World Bank in Bangladesh, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/bd
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