JICS staff member to participate in the local procurement seminar of the Middle East region as an instructor

Since October, 2004, the independent administrative entity, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has been promoting the local procurement of machinery and equipment necessary for technical cooperation. JICA makes various efforts to reinforce the system of procurement implementation in its overseas offices, and JICS supports them.

In January, 2008, the seminar of the local procurement in the Middle Eastern area was held at the JICA Jordan office, and JICS staff, as an instructor, also participated in the seminar with JICA staff. Fifteen staff members in charge of the procurement at the Middle Eastern local offices gathered and took part in the seminar from 9 countries such as Turkey and Egypt.

Since many of the local staff were Muslims, the sessions of the seminar were carefully planned for their prayers several times during the day.

The seminar covered the procedure of procurement, basic matters on drawing up the technical specifications, and the flows and points to remember in the procedure, aiming to promote their understanding the procedure of the local procurement of machinery and the consulting contract.

Each participant showed strong interest in the seminar, asked many questions at the Q&A session, and actively exchanged opinions. Above all, the Yemen local office was recently opened, and the attendees from the office commented they learned a great deal from the seminar and that it was very meaningful.

In the Middle East area, there are many smaller offices, and the number and cost of the procurement services are comparatively limited. In the discussion forums at the seminar, they talked about their mutual challenges such as difficulty in obtaining assistance for various procurement procedures from the contract applicants and the limited number of the candidates for the contract.

In the future, local procurement is considered to increase its importance, and JICS is going to support swift implementation of procurement at JICA's local offices.