Government Procurement Committee reviews achievements at 100th meeting, welcomes observers

Addressing the 100^th session of the Committee, Martin Zbinden of Switzerland, Chair of the GPA Committee, highlighted the unique status of the Committee within the WTO framework.

"This Committee is unique, not just because it is a plurilateral WTO committee that operates under Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement," he said. "It is unique also because it is the only global forum for intergovernmental cooperation focusing on the intersection of trade and government procurement."

He added: "It should give all of us satisfaction that the Committee keeps on attracting interest among the rest of the WTO membership, which demonstrates its value and significance."

The Chair noted that since the entry into force of the GPA in 1994, 22 additional members have been added to the coverage of the Agreement. He also recalled the plurilateral renegotiation of the GPA 1994, which resulted in the adoption of the GPA 2012, strengthening market access and trade rules.

The Committee's achievements over the years have included, among other things, the establishment of work programmes in 2012, notably on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sustainability, the Chair highlighted. In 2024, the Committee adopted and published a report outlining best practices for promoting and facilitating the participation of SMEs in government procurement.

New observers

Guatemala became an observer to the Committee on 13 June 2025. At the meeting on 15 October, Ambassador Eduardo Ernesto Sperisen-Yurt of Guatemala said: "This step reflects our firm commitment to the principles of transparency, fair competition and good governance that underpin the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)."

He added: "Guatemala recognizes government procurement as an essential instrument for sustainable development, the promotion of economic efficiency and the strengthening of public institutions. Our participation as an observer to this Committee represents an invaluable opportunity to learn from members' experiences, strengthen our capacities, and move toward harmonizing our national practices with international standards."

The Committee also welcomed Barbados, which became the 38^th observer to the Committee on 6 October. At the Committee meeting, Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados said: "We view this engagement as an opportunity to strengthen our institutional frameworks and to align our public procurement systems with international best practices, consistent with the principles upheld under the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Our aim is to build a procurement system that supports competition, enhances the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourages the integration of environmentally sustainable and socially responsible practices."

Workshop

An information-sharing workshop titled "Women entrepreneurs and government procurement: Lessons learned" was held on 15 October in conjunction with the Committee meeting. Organized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba, the event featured a panel discussion bringing together speakers from various backgrounds to highlight approaches to supporting women-led businesses in government procurement. Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector of Aruba, H.E. Geoffrey B. Wever, addressed the workshop via a video message.