Government Procurement: A View from Asia

Abstract

There is no single approach to government procurement regulation among Asian countries. While some are signatories to the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), others are not. Some have deliberate policies which confer preferences on domestic suppliers of goods and services. Even so, some have embarked on changing their GP regimes independently of WTO requirements. Yet others appear to be prepared to make changes in tandem with the negotiation of bilateral or regional free trade agreements. This article examines government procurement from these varied perspectives of Asian countries.

Keywords: government procurement, Asia, free trade agreements, bilateral, transparency, development