Nenadić and Kafedžić: Public Procurement to Be Channeled Through UNDP for Transparency and Efficiency

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Mario Nenadić and Head of the Office for the Fight against Corruption and Quality Management of Sarajevo Canton Erduan Kafedžić discussed today the current situation in the Canton, in the part related to the competencies of this Office. On that occasion, Kafedžić informed the Prime Minister that the Office, within its tasks, monitors activities in all departments and institutions with the aim of taking possible measures to prevent and protect the interests of the Canton.

Prime Minister Nenadić emphasized the importance of the Office's work and stressed that, despite numerous obligations and activities, primarily related to the prevention and fight against the coronavirus epidemic as well as the adoption of measures for the economy, and other regular government tasks, he will continue to maintain the pace of coordination of activities with the Office for the Fight against Corruption and Quality Management. As he announced, every seven to ten days he will conduct regular coordination of activities, with the aim of familiarizing himself with the situation as well as taking measures to protect the Canton from any forms of corruption.

“We also discussed procurement procedures, the need to implement them to the greatest extent as prescribed by the Law on Public Procurement, and only exceptionally and under the conditions specified in the relevant instructions of the Public Procurement Agency of BiH, apply certain emergency procedures,” said Prime Minister Nenadić, emphasizing that the key, i.e., the largest procurements in the Sarajevo Canton are currently procurements of medical equipment.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister informed the Head of the Office about the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities in the Sarajevo Canton, as well as other models for strengthening the capacity of the Government of the Sarajevo Canton to respond to the repatriation of BiH citizens from abroad, and in that regard, the establishment, by order of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the FBiH and the federal Minister of Health, of appropriate quarantine spaces at the Public Institution “Student Center Sarajevo”. Space has also been provided there for
persons who are found to be violating the mandatory self-isolation measure, which certainly entails appropriate resources and capacities of the Canton.

Head of the Office Kafedžić praised the Government's efforts to procure medical equipment through UNDP, which has been designated by UN agencies as the central point for procurement worldwide, including in BiH. As he pointed out, this will certainly contribute to more transparent, efficient, and economical procurement.

Prime Minister Nenadić also announced that procurement from domestic producers, as much as possible, will be channeled through UNDP, given that this organization is already engaged in this, but also to support domestic production, as well as the rational use of the Canton's resources. This will also enable domestic companies to establish quality contacts with UNDP, which will open the way for them to place some of their products
on the foreign market.

Discussions also covered employment procedures, giving consent to employment in the public sector of the Sarajevo Canton, as well as the need to submit information on initiated and realized public procurement procedures, about which the Office has already requested information from all institutions in the Sarajevo Canton. On this occasion, Prime Minister Nenadić also requested the Office to address the Government of the Sarajevo Canton with the aim of strengthening capacities for the fight against corruption.