https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORaJ7f6H4eE

February 24, 2026

The Republic of Paraguay, through its National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP), formally assumed the Presidency of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP). Mr. Juan Agustín Encina, National Director of the DNCP, received the mandate from Carlos Pimentel, Director General of Public Procurement of the Dominican Republic and INGP President for the 2024–2026 term, marking the beginning of a biennium focused on continuity and the strengthening of regional ties.

In his remarks, Encina emphasized that his administration will not only build upon the achievements to date, but also deepen technical cooperation to ensure that public procurement becomes “strategic, transparent, and innovative.” This vision seeks to transform government purchasing into a genuine driver of economic and social development for member states.

The ceremony also introduced the new INGP Executive Committee, composed of representatives from the continent’s various subregions. The newly appointed members underscored that public procurement is a strategic public policy instrument—essential to strengthening public integrity, optimizing public expenditure, and generating tangible public value for citizens.

– North America Region: Irais Barreto Canales, Head of the Unit for Social Participation and Shared Responsibility, Secretariat for Anti-Corruption and Good Government, Federal Government of Mexico.

– Central America Region: Ms. María Fernanda Andino, Director of the Regulatory Office for State Procurement and Acquisitions (ONCAE), Honduras.

– Caribbean Region: Ms. Beverly Khan, Head of the Office of the Procurement Regulator (OPR), Trinidad and Tobago.

– Andean Region: Cristóbal Padilla Tejeda, National Director of the National Public Procurement Agency – Colombia Compra Eficiente, Colombia.

– Southern Cone Region: Isis Burguéz, Director of the State Procurement Regulatory Agency (ARCE), Uruguay.

The Organization of American States (OAS), in its capacity as Technical Secretariat of the INGP, reaffirmed its support for the Presidency and the Executive Committee, as well as its commitment to accompany member states through strategic technical assistance and the facilitation of regional dialogue aimed at achieving hemispheric consensus and results. This support is centered on promoting tools and initiatives that consolidate public procurement as a catalytic vehicle—capable of translating public policies into concrete outcomes and generating tangible, transparent impact for the benefit of citizens. The OAS also expressed its appreciation for the institutional and financial support provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Under this framework, the new administration will work to align efforts and mobilize collective will around shared challenges through sustained dialogue and multilateral cooperation. This strategic approach will help consolidate regional standards that not only strengthen institutional quality and transparency, but also position public procurement as a key instrument for generating public value and advancing the well-being of citizens across the Americas.