Aspire to Innovate-a2i’s procurement management has achieved International Standards Organization (ISO) certification for outstanding institutional achievement in procurement management and related activities. a2i has taken special initiatives to improve buyer-supplier relationships and increase efficiency in the private sector with a view to improving transparency and quality in the government procurement process.
On Thursday (November 16), a day-long workshop titled ‘Supplier Relationship Development Program 2023’ was held organized by Aspire to Innovate-a2i at the BCC auditorium of the capital’s ICT Tower. In the opening ceremony of that workshop, the IOTA BD Chief Operating Officer and Principal Consultant Qaiser Mahmood handed over the AI Certificate to Md. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, Information and Communication Technology Division.
The workshop was attended by representatives of around 50 private sector suppliers.
Md. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary of information and communication technology division was present as the chief guest in the workshop. The a2i Project Director (Joint Secretary) Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuya presided over the event while the CPTU Director General Md. Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury was present as a special guest
ICT Secretary Md. Shamsul Arefin said that, a2i has been taking various innovative initiatives in delivering various technology-based services to people’s doorsteps. a2i has been creating a unique environment through multifaceted administrative reform programs, developmental activities, citizen-friendly environment and service modernization. In continuation of this, the consultant company of Bangladesh audits all the ISO certificates issued by the famous ‘Global Inter Certificate-GEC’ of the United States through IOTA.
He said that a2i has undertaken activities to improve the efficiency of supplier/consultant organizations in compliance with government procurement laws and regulations. In this case public procurement and private sector suppliers can have long-term partnerships, which will help to play a positive role in keeping both parties in a win-win situation. Urging the government and private institutions to work together to build a smart Bangladesh by 2041, the Secretary of the ICT Department said, we will start our journey as a developing country in 2026.
Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuya, Project Director (Joint Secretary) of a2i said, “This event will enhance the capacity of suppliers and bidders to adopt better business practices along with capacity building. Workshops were organized last year to develop the skills of suppliers on tender/proposals. Subsequently, the number of subsequent re-tenders/invitation for proposals has been reduced considerably. Only by working together, it is possible to improve the quality of products and services, delivery times, procurement processes and the efficiency of all suppliers and bidders.
The workshop aims to create an atmosphere of trust between government buyers and private suppliers, create a spirit of mutual cooperation, technology transfer, knowledge transfer and long-term partnerships, reduce supply chain and logistics costs and ensure the highest quality of government services.
The a2i Smart Bangladesh under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Department and Information and Communication Technology Department and managed by UNDP is working to facilitate citizen services through information technology. a2i is completing the procurement process following the Government Procurement Principles. Currently the average number of participants in QCBS system is 15 and the competition rate is increasing day by day. Innovative procurement methods are becoming popular in place of traditional procurement. A2I has taken various initiatives to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement process in compliance with existing laws and regulations. This workshop has been organized in its continuity. Last year too, a2i organized workshops to improve suppliers’ skills regarding tenders.
Among others, a2i’s Consultant Procurement Mohammad Salah Uddin along with officials from Information and Communication Technology Department, CPTU and various private sector suppliers including a2i were present in the event.