The Government E-Marketplace (GeM), that was launched earlier, helps bring in transparency in the process of public procurement, it further allows an equal opportunity for businesses to compete, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said today.

During her key note address at the National Consultative Workshop on Government e-Market Place (GeM) she spoke of the transformation that has been facilitated through the portal. Within one year from the day the announcement of the initiative by Prime Minister Modi, the portal is not only live but is also in good operation.

Sitharaman informed that the procurement done by government amounts to nearly 5 lakh crore rupees annually, this includes procurement by both central as well as state governments. Considering the quantum of money that is used for procurement, there was a dire need to bring in transparency; GeM is a successful initiative in that direction.

She spoke of the portal facilitating ease of doing business. The seller or the traders don’t have to run from pillar to post to file tender, ask for payments. Everything is at ease now. Within 10 days of delivery of shipment to the government department, the payment is made to the seller.

During the event MoUs were signed with states including Andhra Pradesh, Poducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Telangana to adopt the portal for procurement.

Talking about the signing of MoUs, the Minister congratulated the state officials and said that it is a great example of cooperative federalism, something that is very important to take the country forward. She also informed that states including Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana would be signing the MoUs soon.

Sitharaman added that the GeM has now become the National procurement portal and it is being projected that 10 per cent of the total costs in procurement might be saved by the government because of the elimination of various loopholes that used to occur in the procurement process earlier.

Key government and State officials including Binoy Kumar, DG DGS, Manoj Kumar Parida, Chief Secretary of Puducherry were present. Also Nakka Ananda Baby, Minister of Social Welfare of Andhra Pradesh was present at the workshop. (KNN/ DA)