AKIPRESS.COM - KONEPS, the Korea ON-line E-Procurement System, is set to be introduced into Kyrgyzstan, known as the Alps of Central Asia, the Korean Embassy in Bishkek reports.
This marks the first time that KONEPS, a brainchild of K-Public Procurement, will be introduced in both a Central Asian nation and, simultaneously, a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
On May 30, the Public Procurement Service of Korea and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance signed an MOU for the deployment of a KONEPS-based electronic procurement system.
In accordance with the MOU, both sides will collaborate to ensure the successful roll-out and stable operation of the system in Kyrgyzstan, sharing knowledge and capacity-building know-how on electronic procurement to build an advanced e-procurement system.
With KONEPS having been deployed to nine countries worldwide, the KONEPS-based e-procurement system in Kyrgyzstan is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency in public procurement, benefiting the nation's digital government initiatives. It will also serve as a bridge for Korean companies to enter overseas public procurement markets and increase procurement transparency, thereby promoting anti-corruption practices for the recipient side.
Furthermore, this year, both countries will cooperate on PPS’ 7-billion-won pilot project for overseas demonstration of government-designated Innovative Products in seventeen countries including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.
As part of the pilot project, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce will use Korea’s remote rehabilitation treatment solution based on robot technology to improve the country’s public services. And the Kyrgyz side will also support Korean suppliers with broader market access.
PPS Administrator Lim Ki Keun expressed, "It is significantly meaningful to introduce the globally recognized KONEPS to Kyrgyzstan. We will strengthen cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and regional countries to widely spread our procurement experience in the Central Asia region and the CIS."