Yet, it is only when a sudden and seriously threatening calamity occurs that governments are shocked into action. For instance, it was only in response to the 2008 global economic downturn that the first reflex of countries such as China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore was to cut-back on procuring goods and services from abroad. This reaction instantaneously however, injured the economies of nations hugely dependant on exports, namely Taiwan.

It is evident hence, that Asia is nowhere close to absolute, even relative immunity to the rich world’s recession or its own personal trajectory of inefficiency. Under these wistful circumstances, employing expertise to fix gaps in the government procurement performance is an essential to combat its growing banality. And it is but a tautology that expertise comes from knowledge.

Procurement Strategies for the Public Sector launches this July, a unique initiative that brings to you the power of knowledge from all across the continent. This major regional dialogue will integrate proficiency of policy makers and practitioners to discuss key current issues in public procurement processes and create a solution portfolio based on:

• Features of Asia Pacific region and the differing government procurement approaches
• Public procurement reforms and regulations in the developing economies and their implications for the local and global markets
• Human factors in government procurement: Country-wise responses to corruption and contractual malpractices
• National preferences and practices linked with: transparency, corporate governance, macro decision-making and use of international aid

In the war of government ledgers it is often the fiscal deficit that quells economic growth. What governments in Asia should look towards in terms of long term growth is sustainable efficiency in public procurement processes. Hence, Procurement Strategies for the Public Sector intends in its launch year, to create a pan-Asia public procurement community with a focus on formulating a combination of reform approaches that are international in their outlook yet local in their presence to deal with severe challenges that the government procurement departments stand to face today.