Chamber presents Public Procurement recommendations to Prime Minister

A delegation from The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, led by President Perit David Xuereb, this afternoon presented a copy of its recently published report on a proposed Public Procurement Reform to the Prime Minister The Hon Dr Robert Abela.

The document makes 36 tangible recommendations for improved public procurement processes, following a thorough consultation process with The Malta Chamber members.

Addressing the Prime Minister, Perit David Xuereb said that the document was the result of The Malta Chamber’s restless and continued effort to promote good governance and also proactively propose ways how this important value could be improved in practice.

Perit Xuereb noted that The Malta Chamber had continuously championed the cause of good governance. “During the early months of 2020, we launched a document titled ‘Ethical Business calls for change – A Manifesto for Good Governance’ which included 60 concrete recommendations. The same document actually included a number of recommendations, which addressed Public Procurement processes and the importance of ensuring best value for money to the public, fairness to economic operators and transparency in the interest of all parties,” said Xuereb.

The ‘Report on Public Procurement Reform 2021’, is a further development of The Chamber’s advocacy of best practice in this area. It offers a detailed analysis of the matters surrounding the crucial process with which the Government spends public funds.

The document was developed after a consultation process with its members and through a working group of experienced individuals and professionals from across the economy. The document serves as valuable guidance for the necessary reforms that are needed, in order to ensure that economic operators are able to perform on an equitable level playing field when tendering for government purchase requests.

These reforms also serve to ensure that national funds are deployed to their best potential and in the interest of the general public.

The Working Group was led by Vice President Ms Liz Barbaro Sant, and included Former President Mr Anton Borg, Council member Mr Marcel K. Mifsud, and members Ms Maronna Filletti, MS Mary Gaerty, and Mr Roderick Abela. The group was assisted by Policy Executive MS Julia Aquilina, while Dr Clement Mifsud Bonnici (Ganado Advocates) was the professional advisor on the process. The document presented was developed in collaboration with Ganado Advocates.