GeM Portal to Launch Global Tender Feature Boosting International Procurement

The Government e-Market portal is set to introduce a global tender feature this year, increasing competition in public procurement. This move ties with India's free trade agreements and aims to enable international vendor participation, thereby expanding the accessibility of goods and services for central government entities.

The Government e-Market (GeM) portal announced the addition of a global tender enquiry feature to its platform, designed to intensify competition in the bidding process for public procurements.

This initiative aligns with India's strategy to gradually open its public procurement market as part of free trade agreements with nations such as the UAE and the UK. The new feature will permit international vendors to participate, offering ministries and departments a more extensive array of goods and services.

Launched on August 9, 2016, GeM already serves as a crucial tool for online purchases by all central government ministries. CEO Mihir Kumar emphasized the feature's relevance amid ongoing trade discussions and expressed plans to promote the platform's adoption across various states.

(With inputs from agencies.)