Accra, May 27, GNA - The Domestic Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Public Procurement Authority would roll out education and training programmes, to equip the private sector on issues and processes of procurement.

The programme would enable the sector to make significant inroads into government procurement processes to win bids and contracts and in addition, secure higher international procurement opportunities. Ms Hannah Tetteh, the sector Minister made this known at the opening session of a two-day business seminar organised by the Ministry and United Nations Procurement Division for Ghanaian Vendors in Accra. The seminar is to equip and empower the sector, to actively participate in UN Procurement activities, through a briefing on the values, processes and business opportunities available. Ms Tetteh assured the participants that UN had diversified its vendor database and is now seeking to attract vendors from countries and regions previously under-represented.

In addition, the registration criteria for vendors has been reviewed and now the players to select the level of business activity they wish to participate in, the best options which best matches their capacities, business scope and commercial strategies. "In this connection, qualified vendors would be registered on-line at the end of the seminar," she added. Ms Tetteh said: "The UN is actively increasing its source of supply of goods and services from vendors in countries categorised as developing or economies in transition." The UN Global Market place provides a one-stop portal for applications to become a registered vendor with 21 different agencies, funds and programmes and secretariats that represent 95 per cent of the procurement expenditure of UN procurement system. She urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity to register and be part of the UN database to promote development. Mr Eric Appiah, Director, Benchmarking, Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Procurement Agency said the influence of good procurement on effectiveness of public spending could be seen on its impact on development of the private sector. He said the development of acceptable business practices would depend on the way government managed its commercial relations with the business community. 27 May 10