WESTERN Australian electronic expertise in online tendering processes in use by the WA Government for the past two years is set to be adopted around the world opening new trade opportunities.
Latin American countries are believed to be queuing up to adopt the State Government’s electronic tendering system – Gem Tendering.
The Department of Industry and Technology developed the software, together with Computer Associates, specifically for use among Latin America’s developing countries.
Interest in the gem tendering process was sparked last month when the Department presented the software to an Inter-American Development Bank conference held in Washington in February.
The IDB is charged with the responsibility for funding multi-million dollar development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
DoIT director general Paul Schapper said the IDB was promoting and funding the cost of installing the tender process throughout the region.
"DoIT and the IDB are now getting down to planning with representatives of three governments – Uruguay, Peru and Guatamala – how each administration can re-engineer their government purchasing processes and have our online system," Mr Schapper said.
"Other countries, including Argentina, say they’re also very keen to have it. The system is regarded as one of the best in the world and readily adaptable, as demonstrated by its successful implementation in Leeds, England."
The northern English City of Leeds has become the first local government in England to move to electronic tendering.
Earlier this year it implemented the Gem system, customised to suit local requirements following a six-month trial.
Another side benefit of the deal is the added trade opportunities that the adopted system may have on WA businesses trading with the region.
"The State doesn’t have its own trade offices in Latin and South America, and establishing close links with senior government people could prove of great benefit for local export companies wishing to gain access to these markets," Mr Schapper said.
He said Gem was attractive because it provided transparency in the tendering process and reduced costs.
