PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is in September expected to grace the host East African Public Procurement Forum in Arusha, organisers have confirmed.

Addressing journalists in Dodoma on Thursday, Eliakim Maswi, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) director said that the event will bring on board more than 1,000 participants from across the region to discuss and share best practices in public procurement.

He said: “This is the fourth time Tanzania has had the opportunity to coordinate and organize this forum, which provides a platform for various stakeholders in procurement both within and outside the country, from the public and private sectors.”

Maswi mentioned that the guest of honour at the opening ceremony is expected to be President Samia who will also launch the Electronic Public Procurement System (NeST)—a web-based system that allows government agencies to procure goods and services electronically.

The forum, he said, will be attended by participants from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, representing the public sector, private sector, professional organizations, civil society, and training institutions.

The official stated that the forum will provide an opportunity to collaborate and exchange experiences in public procurement matters among East African countries to bring sustainable development to the procurement sector and Tanzania's economy in general.

Maswi said: “This event brings together and creates interaction among various public procurement stakeholders, providing a platform for stakeholders to present their issues and efforts to improve and create a conducive public procurement environment in the East African region.”

According to him, among the benefits of the forum to the country include strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange between procurement regulatory bodies from member countries of Africa, and enhancing transparency and accountability in government operations by improving institutional systems.

He further said that the forum provides PPRA and other stakeholders with an opportunity to gain skills and information that are crucial for promoting transparency, building procurement awareness among stakeholders, and equipping forum participants with knowledge and skills.

He called on all stakeholders to participate in the forum to gain understanding and insights into various procurement issues.