International Forum on Procurement Policies and Best Practices of Multilateral Banks

TEGUCIGALPA, June 8, 2017(AFP SERVICES/CABEI). On June 1, the First International Forum on Procurement Policies and Best Practices of Multilateral Banks was held in the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. At the event, experts from four Multilateral Development Banks in America and Europe had the opportunity to discuss and share experiences related to procurement mechanisms for goods, works, services and consultancies in public sector projects financed in the region.

The Executive Vice President of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Attorney Alejandro Rodríguez Zamora stated that, “The event seeks to create spaces that deepen the knowledge about the differences among policies in order to streamline project execution and create new financing opportunities." 

He added that, “The Institution seeks to establish alliances, improve practices and facilitate credit to its Central American borrowers.”

The event, which was sponsored by CABEI, featured keynote presentations by the World Bank's Procurement Director for Latin America, Joao Veiga Malta; European Investment Bank Procurement Division Head, José Luis Alfaro; CABEI Procurement Unit Coordinator, Lourdes Fú; and the Senior Procurement Specialist of the Inter-American Development Bank in Honduras, María Cecilia del Puerto Correa.

All of the speakers concluded that it is essential for public administration to procure goods, works and contract services - which they use to operate and satisfy their needs - with effectiveness, efficiency, impartiality and honesty in order to ensure to the State the best available market conditions in terms of price, quality, financing and opportunity.

Fú stated that the information from the event will contribute to identifying how multilateral credit organizations apply best procurement practices, controls and regulations in the projects financed, taking into account that each project has its own peculiarities.

The forum was carried out by CABEI, which is the main development bank for Central America. It falls under the framework of its 2015-2019 five-year strategy, which is structured around three axis involving environmental sustainability: strategy and competitiveness, regional integration and social development.

CABEI was founded in December 1960. It is the main provider of financial resources to the region and works intensely to improve the quality of life of more than 56 million Central Americans.