Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent hosted a workshop, organized by the World Bank in partnership with the National Agency for Project Management (NAPM) and the State Investment Committee (SIC) of Uzbekistan, on the issues of transparency and openness in the public procurement sector.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, including officials of various ministries and state agencies, as well as representatives of the private sector.

The hosts of the meeting informed the attendees on the World Bank procurement regulations under its projects, the contribution of this international financial institution (IFI) in development of national public procurement systems across the globe, and the results of the implementation of the Public Procurement Law adopted in April 2018 in Uzbekistan.

World Bank’s Practice Manager for Solutions and Innovations in Procurement for the Europe and Central Asia region Mr. V. S. Krishnakumar, was one of the key speakers of the meeting.

“We congratulate the government of Uzbekistan on adoption of the Public Procurement Law. This important piece of legislation has significantly improved the integrity, transparency, and openness of the public procurement system in the country. We are happy that the World Bank experts have contributed to its development. We will continue providing support to the Government in reforming this crucial sector of the public management”, Mr. Krishnakumar stated at his presentation.

Following the meeting, Mr. Krishnakumar and Mr. Kongratbay Sharipov, Rector of Turin Polytechnic University, inked a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Bank and the University. 

The Bank will support the development of procurement capacity of the given higher education establishment.

It should be noted that this is the second MOU the World Bank has signed with the local universities.