GPA SYMPOSIUM
Revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA): an emerging pillar of 21st century trade and development
After more than a decade of renegotiation, the revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) entered into force in April 2014. To mark(1) this event and as part of the 20th anniversary activities of the WTO, the WTO Secretariat is organising at the WTO's headquarters a symposium on the GPA. The symposium will also act as a technical cooperation event on government procurement.
Resources
This symposium aims to raise awareness of the significance of the GPA in today’s international economy. It will address policy-related issues on government procurement, both generally and as they relate to trade, governance and development. Its purpose is to inform participants of WTO activities in this area as well as to provide a forum for both trade and procurement experts to exchange information on trade-related activities and initiatives. Particular attention will be given to the revised GPA.
Read MoreParticipants will consider the multiple dimensions of government procurement policy in a modern economy, and the issues and challenges associated with effective policy coordination in this area at the international level. Attention will be given to the interaction between key areas of policy including value for money, trade, governance and development. The tensions and complementarities arising from these and other dimensions of government procurement policy, such as social and environmental concerns, will also be addressed. The symposium will further reflect upon issues, challenges, and flexibilities pertaining to the participation of developing countries in trade agreements with a government procurement dimension.
Consideration will be given to the potential role that the GPA can play as a unified international legal framework that facilitates the achievement of balanced and optimal outcomes with respect to trade, governance, value for money and development. The synergies and complementarities between the work of the WTO and other international organisations will further be explored in this respect. Relevant activities, initiatives and developments, including infrastructure provision, sustainable procurement, and the participation of small and medium sized enterprises in public procurement markets, will also be addressed.
Programme
Day 1 — Thursday, 17 September 2015
08.30 - Registration and security procedures
09.30 - Official Opening of the Symposium
SESSION 1
The revised GPA: significance for development and global trade in the 21st century
9.10-10.45Chair: Mr John Newham, Chairman, WTO Committee on Government Procurement
Chairman's introductory remarks
09.20Good governance and economic development: the GPA as an enabling instrument
Mr Nicholas Niggli
Head of the Economic, Finance, Science and Innovation Section of the Swiss Embassy, UK
PresentationButtressing the case for international public procurement: the role of data-driven policy making
The GPA and Africa: possibilities and opportunities ahead
General discussion
10.30 — 10.45
Break
SESSION 2
Policy coherence in the area of government procurement: the revised GPA and other international instruments and initiatives
11.20-13.15Chair: Mr Robert Anderson, WTO Secretariat
Chairman's introductory remarks
11.30A new Procurement Framework: complementarities and synergies with the GPA, pushing the boundaries of WB procurement
Legal transition and good governance in the public procurement sector: relevance of the GPA to EBRD's work
The upcoming policy of the African Development Bank: measures for development of local industry and relevance of good governance and GPA principles
The revised UNCITRAL Model Law on Public Procurement: synergies and complementarities with the revised GPA
General discussion
Lunch Break
SESSION 3
Ensuring the continuing relevance of the GPA: the New Work Programmes of the GPA Committee and related policy considerations
14.30-16.30Chair: Mr Antony Taubman, Director, Intellectual Property Division, WTO Secretariat
Chairman's introductory remarks
14.40Future relevance and evolution of the GPA in light of global trends and developments
Professor Sue Arrowsmith
Achilles Professor of Public Procurement Law and Policy, The University of Nottingham
PresentationSustainability in government procurement: possible approaches
The OECD Recommendation on Public Procurement: complementarities and synergies with GPA participation
Mr János Bertok
Head of Division, Public Sector Integrity, Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate, OECD Secretariat
PresentationEncouraging the participation of SMEs in the government procurement sector: insights from international experience
Professor Daniel Gordon
Senior Advisor, Government Procurement Law Program, George Washington University
PresentationGeneral discussion
Break
SESSION 4
Broadening the reach of GPA principles: regional developments and perspectives
16.50-18.30Chair: Ms Jean Heilman Grier, Djaghe LLC
Chairman's introductory remarks
17.00Latin America and the GPA: why the hesitation?
Mr Ronald Saborio Soto
Consultant and Former Ambassador, Costa Rica
China's accession to the GPA: benefits for China and the global economy
Expanding international procurement markets via the GPA renegotiation and regional trade agreements: realising the synergies between the GPA and RTAs
General discussion
SESSION 5
Concluding session
18.15Chair: Mr Robert Anderson, WTO Secretariat
Rapporteur's reflections
Professor Daniel Gordon
George Washington University
Closing remarks
Mr Antony Taubman
Director, Intellectual Property Division, WTO Secretariat
Day 2 — Friday, 18 September 2015
08.30 - Registration and security procedures
Welcoming remarks: Mr Robert Anderson, WTO Secretariat
SESSION 6
Significance of government procurement for trade, development and economic performance and relevance of the GPA
09.10-10.10Chair: Mr Robert Anderson, WTO Secretariat
Developmental and trade significance of government procurement: competition, governance, value for money and the international dimension
The GPA in a changing global context: core disciplines, entry into force of the revised Agreement and policy considerations for developing countries
Mr Robert Anderson
WTO Secretariat
General discussion
SESSION 7A
The GPA as an instrument of governance: transparency, procedural rules and institutional provisions
10.10-11.05The revised GPA: potential market access benefits for acceding members
GPA institutional provisions: domestic review procedures and WTO dispute settlement
General discussion
SESSION 7B
The GPA as a market access instrument: potential market access benefits, scope and coverage and new online market access information resource tool
11.20-12.15The revised GPA: potential market access benefits for acceding members
The e-GPA online market access information resource tool: a practical demonstration
General discussion
SESSION 7C
Accession to the GPA: procedures and modalities, and benefits and challenges, including transitional measures for developing countries
12.15-13.15Accession to the GPA: current state of play, process and procedures, and benefits and challenges including transitional measures for developing countries
Accession to the GPA: the case of Armenia
General discussion
Lunch Break
SESSION 8
Government procurement in a post-2015 sustainable development era: policy and strategic considerations for developing and transition economies
14.30-16.458A) Regional colloquia and mini-workshops (4 separate regional groups)
- Africa, Arab and Middle East Region
- Asia-Pacific Region
- Central & Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus (CEECAC) Region
- Latin America and the Caribbean Region
Africa, Arab and Middle East Region
Infrastructure and public services provision as a key requirement for trade and development: importance of sound procurement policy and related international disciplines — breakout session
Speaker: Participants
General discussion
Asia-Pacific Region
Expanding trade in government procurement markets: developments on regional trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region and insights and possible lessons from the GPA model — breakout session
Speaker: Participants
General discussion
CEECAC Region
Accession to the GPA: potential market access benefits, and relevance and significance for good governance and economic reforms for transition economies — breakout session
Speaker: Participants
General discussion
Latin America and the Caribbean Region
Regional integration and domestic reforms: activities and initiatives from the region, and potential role and relevance of international disciplines — breakout session
Speaker: Participants
General discussion
16.00-16.15Coffee Break
16.15-16.458B) Report from mini-workshop sessions
- Africa, Arab and Middle East Region
- Asia-Pacific Region
- Central & Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus (CEECAC) Region
- Latin America and the Caribbean Region
General discussion
SESSION 9
Government procurement disciplines in a post-2015 sustainable development era: policy messages and role and relevance of the GPA
Chair: Mr Robert Anderson, WTO Secretariat
16.45-18.15The GPA as an emerging pillar of 21st century trade and development: policy messages and considerations for transition and developing economies — Roundtable discussion
17.45General discussion
SESSION 10
Concluding session
18.00-18.15Attendance
The Symposium is being organised for the benefit of participants from GPA observers, GPA parties, WTO members and observers, and for other policymakers and analysts with an interest in government procurement in general and the Agreement more specifically. More on the GPA