The Deputy Prime Minister of Djibouti, Ali Hassan Bahdun, has overseen the opening of the second regional meeting on public procurement in the country. The event, which took place in the city of Dikhil, was organized by the General Secretariat of the Government, represented by the National Public Procurement Commission. The meeting was attended by several government officials, members of the Djiboutian Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from the private sector, civil society, and academia.
The meeting, which will run for two days, aims to discuss ways to improve the public procurement system in Djibouti and enhance transparency and efficiency in public spending. The event is part of the government's efforts to implement reforms in the public procurement sector, with a focus on promoting economic growth, creating jobs, and improving the business environment. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of public procurement as a tool for economic policy and a means of achieving development goals.
The Djiboutian government has made significant progress in implementing reforms in the public procurement sector, including the introduction of a new regulatory framework and the establishment of a dispute resolution committee. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the average duration of public procurement processes has been reduced from 35 days in 2021 to 26 days in 2023. Additionally, Djiboutian companies have secured more than 71% of public procurement contracts awarded in 2024.
The National Strategy for Public Procurement, which aims to promote efficiency, transparency, and openness in public procurement, was also discussed during the meeting. The strategy, which will run until 2030, focuses on promoting the participation of national institutions, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and youth and entrepreneurs. The Deputy Prime Minister announced that a draft decree on banking guarantees will be submitted to the government soon, aiming to establish clear and fair rules for companies participating in public procurement.
The meeting also discussed the importance of digitalization in public procurement, with a focus on promoting transparency and efficiency. The Djiboutian government has launched an electronic portal for public procurement, which has recorded over 1,300 tenders and 1,227 procurement processes since 2021. A national platform for electronic purchasing is expected to be launched in 2027, as part of the country's development program.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of partnership between the government and the private sector in promoting economic development. He encouraged companies to respect quality standards, deadlines, and principles of integrity in their dealings with the government. The meeting also discussed the importance of social and environmental sustainability in public procurement, with a focus on promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and women in public procurement processes.
The second regional meeting on public procurement will conclude in the city of Ali Sabieh, with a set of practical recommendations and a roadmap for implementing priority measures. The meeting is expected to promote greater transparency and efficiency in public procurement, and to contribute to the country's economic development.
Key points
- The Djiboutian government aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in public spending through its public procurement reforms.
- The country's public procurement reforms focus on promoting the participation of national institutions, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
- A national platform for electronic purchasing is expected to be launched in 2027.
