Elevating Sustainable/ Green Public Procurement for Transformation

Dili, June 18, 2024 - The European Union and the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) have joined forces to launch an exciting new initiative aimed at revolutionizing public procurement with a green agenda. Hosted by the National Procurement Commission, the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment, and the PFM Reform Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, a launch workshop was held to kickstart the Green Public Procurement Technical Advisory program, supported by the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia initiative.

This landmark workshop is a crucial step in the ongoing Technical Advisory on “Sustainable/Green Public Procurement.” It aims to engage key government and sub-national stakeholders in a strategic planning effort to integrate sustainability into procurement processes across the nation.

EU Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Marc Fiedrich, highlighted the significance of this initiative: “Mainstreaming sustainability into procurement is a remarkable opportunity for Timor-Leste to tackle climate change and environmental challenges. The EU strongly supports Timor-Leste’s drive to meet its Sustainable Development Goals and its commitment to Green Public Procurement.”

Zinaida Fadeeva, SWITCH-Asia Team Leader, warmly welcomed participants from the GoTL, Development Partners, Private Sectors, and Civil Society Organizations. She emphasized the workshop's objective to gather insights on implementing Green Public Procurement in Timor-Leste and how the EU can support all stakeholders in charting a sustainable path forward.

Senior GPP expert Mr. Sanjay Kumar delivered an inspiring presentation on the transformative power of Green Public Procurement. He noted that public procurement represents a staggering $13 trillion market. Developing a robust policy framework, establishing institutional mechanisms, expanding the scope and scale of GPP, and embedding sustainability into the PFM system are essential steps to achieving sustainability targets and transforming markets.

Mr Pedro Guterres presented the current Green Public Procurement landscape in Timor Leste and opportunities for its successful implementation. Stakeholders asked questions and provided input into the currently ongoing detailed assessment conducted by the EU SWITCH-Asia Team.

Timor-Leste stands at the threshold of a green revolution, and this collaborative effort with the EU is set to pave the way for a sustainable future.

June 18, 2024

Media Laloran Tasi Mane