On October 5, 6 and 7, 2022, the XVII Annual Conference of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP) was held in Panama City, Panama; which had the institutional, technical and financial support of the Organization of American States (OAS) as Technical Secretariat of the INGP, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the development bank of Latin America (CAF), the National Public Procurement Service (SERCOP) of Ecuador as Chair of the INGP, and the Directorate General of Public Procurement (DGCP) of Panama.

During the inauguration, the President of the Republic of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, mentioned that “it is an honor to act as host of this important international conference, which will undoubtedly be beneficial for all”; he also highlighted that the event “will contribute to strengthen the transparency, integrity, efficiency and effectiveness of our government procurement systems; and will provide valuable knowledge to combat corruption through more effective processes and mechanisms for monitoring and accountability. This is a great opportunity; if there is anything that gives meaning and purpose to life, it is the work and mission that each of you have.”

Joining the President at the inauguration were Helena Fonseca, Technical Secretary of the INGP and Coordinator of the OAS Public Procurement Program; María Sara Jijón, President of the INGP and Director of the National Public Procurement Service (SERCOP) of Ecuador; Raphael Fuentes, Director General of Public Procurement (DGCP) of Panama; Douglas Fraser, Head of Procurement of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); Germán Zappani, Head of Operations of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in Panama; Kim Ursu, Ambassador of Canada in Panama; María Eugenia López, Magistrate President of the Supreme Court of Justice; and Rubén Farje, OAS Representative in Panama.

During the first two days of the event, more than 500 people from the public sector at the national and local levels of various jurisdictions, international experts, academia, civil society, international organizations, and the national directors of public procurement of 27 member states of the INGP participated; who presented and discussed key and relevant topics in public procurement, including: Innovation and Digital Transformation, Strategic Public Procurement, Data Analytics, Inclusive Public Procurement, Professionalization of the Public Procurer, among others.

– First day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CY3dNBYacU
– Second day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKWbq9biRDs

For details about the agenda, speakers, etc.,visit: http://www.ricgpanama2022.gob.pa/en

During the third day, the Private Session of the Directors of Public Procurement of the INGP member states was held, where the Technical Secretariat presented the management report 2021-2022. Download INGP MANAGEMENT REPORT 2021-2022

Workshops on Open Innovation and Professionalization were also held, led by Sandra Sinde and Sonia Amaya, respectively. There was also a presentation on tools for professionalization in public procurement by Sabrina Comotto, Director of the Master’s Degree in Public Procurement, UNSAM-Argentina; Paulo Magina, Deputy Head of the Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division of the Public Governance Directorate, OECD; and Nicolas Penagos, MAPS Secretary.

Finally, and in accordance with the Statutes of the INGP, the new host of the 2023 Annual Conference was unanimously elected, to be held in Ecuador, whose candidacy was presented by the National Public Procurement Service (SERCOP) of Ecuador.

The Annual Conference of the INGP is the highest regional instance of political and technical dialogue for the exchange of best practices and lessons learned in public procurement. For 2022, its central theme focused on the development of strategies and mechanisms to promote the generation of public value through public procurement as a key tool to promote national development.

PRESS RELEASES ON THE CONFERENCE

State Media:

– Press Release by the Presidency of the Republic of Panama:
https://www.presidencia.gob.pa/Noticias/Presidente-Cortizo-Cohen-inaugura-XVII-Conferencia-Anual-de-la-Red-Interamericana-de-Compras-Gubernamentales-en-Panama

– Press Release by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development
https://www.mitradel.gob.pa/ministra-zapata-participa-en-conferencia-anual-sobre-compras-gubernamentales-en-las-americas/

– Press Release by the Judicial Body
https://www.organojudicial.gob.pa/index.php/noticias/magistrada-presidenta-de-la-csj-participa-en-la-xvii-cumbre-anual-de-compras-gubernamentales

Non-State Media:

– Nota de Prensa “EnSegundos.com.pa”
https://ensegundos.com.pa/2022/10/06/panama-sede-de-la-xvii-conferencia-anual-de-la-red-interamericana-de-compras-gubernamentales/

– Press Release “La Estrella de Panamá”
https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/221011/clausuran-xvii-conferencia-anual-ricg

– Press Release “Metro Libre”
https://www.metrolibre.com/econom%C3%ADa/245037-se-inaugura-en-panam%C3%A1-la-xvii-conferencia-anual-de-la-red-interamericana-de-compras-gubernamentales.html

– Press Release “El Espectador de Panamá”
https://elespectadordepanama.com/panama-inaugura-con-exito-inaugura-la-xvii-conferencia-anual-de-la-red-de-compras-gubernamentales/

– Press Release “Oye Lo Bueno”
https://oyelobueno.com/2022/10/06/presidente-cortizo-inaugura-xvii-conferencia-anual-de-la-ricg/

– Press Release “El Capital Financiero.com”
https://elcapitalfinanciero.com/panama-muestra-a-latinoamerica-sus-avances-en-los-procesos-de-modernizacion-de-compras-publicas/

– Press Release “EcoTVPanama
https://www.ecotvpanama.com/economia/panama-aborda-innovacion-compras-gubernamentales-n5782311