More training for women on e-GP stressed

Speakers at a workshop on Thursday stressed the need for more training for women on e-GP for their capacity building in entrepreneurship and taking part in the government procurement system.

Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) arranged the day-long workshop on electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) in its conference room at BPPA Bhaban on the campus of the Bangladesh Planning Commission in Dhaka, reports BSS.

The workshop was aimed at encouraging women's participation in public procurement process, a BAPPA press release said.

The workshop was part of communication program of BPPA for discussions on BPPA's functions and progress of e-GP, it said.

The workshop was conducted under the DIMAPP project being implemented by BPPA. Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) managed the workshop.

Abul Kashem Md. Mohiuddin, Secretary of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) under the Ministry of Planning attended the workshop as the chief guest.

Director of BPPA Md. Sakhawat Hossain gave a presentation on BPPA functions, sustainable public procurement, e-GP progress and women’s participation in public procurement.

Director of BPPAMs Laboni Chakma gave welcome address while BPPA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman was in the chair.

After the presentation, participants took part in an open discussion where they shared their experiences, challenges, and potentials of e-GP and public procurement.

They also gave suggestions regarding the easiness of women’s participation in public procurement.

Secretary of IMED responded to the suggestions of the participants saying that these would be taken into consideration while making amendments to procurement act, rules, and e-GP Guidelines.

CEO of BPPA said that women across the world constitute only 40 per cent of global entrepreneurs. In Thailand, it is 26 per cent of its total entrepreneurs, in India it is 22 per cent and in Bangladesh it is only 7.3 per cent.

In e-GP system of BPPA, the number of registered women tenderers is 4,205. The total number of tenderers now registered in e-GP system is 1,16,119.

Previously, BPPA also organized similar workshops aimed at increasing women's participation in public procurement, during which the IMED Secretary advised highlighting success stories of women participants in government procurement system.

Active participation of women on the e-GP platform aligns with the country's economic progress, and this workshop was part of that effort, he said.

BPPA introduced e-GP in 2011, which has been widely accepted by both procuring entities and participants for its simplicity, speed, and reliability.

About 40 women entrepreneurs, who are already registered in the e-GP system, participated in the workshop which is expected to play a significant role in creating new opportunities for women through e-GP and the public procurement process.