This Workshop will address policy-related issues on government procurement both generally and as they relate to trade, governance and economic performance. Its purpose is to inform participants of WTO activities in this area, to provide a forum for both trade and procurement experts to exchange views and perspectives on national, bilateral, regional and multilateral trade-related activities and initiatives in the area of government procurement, and to facilitate policy analysis and reflection in this area. Particular attention will be given to the revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), which entered into force in April 2014.

An important focus will be placed on recent policy developments at the international and regional levels in the area of government procurement. Attention will also be given to the underlying, cross-cutting role of government procurement in relation to delivery on inclusive, sustainable development – including, notably, in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The synergies and complementarities arising from shared basic principles between the GPA, international disciplines and domestic procurement regimes will be discussed in this respect.