Govt works with private sector to fight public procurement corruption

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BANGKOK, 11 February 2013  The Comptroller General’s Department, under the Ministry of Finance, has held an anti-corruption in the public sector meeting with the private sector. The meeting agreed on the use of an “Integrity Pact” to obligate project owners who are government units and bidders to cooperate for transparent and fair procurement. 

The meeting, which took place on 8 February 2013, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and co-chaired by Secretary-General of the Joint Standing Committee on Trade, Industries and Banking Pramont Sutheewong, who is also the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Network. The meeting focused on promoting cooperation between the government and the private sector on anti-corruption in public procurement under the principles of morality and law. The participants also considered guidelines for the implementation of anti-corruption campaigns.

The government gave high priority to the problem of corruption and considered it national agenda. The government encouraged the private sector and the public to take part in its public procurement process, Mr Kittiratt said.

The meeting also approved the “Integrity Pact,” a written agreement to be signed by government units and their bidders. The pact ensures that public procurement is conducted in a free and fair manner with third parties observing the procurement process.