CLDP, in partnership with the WTO Secretariat, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Ministry of Finance of Armenia, held a Seminar on the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Obligations and International Best Practices in Public Procurement in Yerevan. This one day program for approximately 100 government officials, contracting entities, and municipalities offered information on Armenia’s rights and obligations per the WTO GPA. The program was led by the WTO Secretariat, a U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Specialist, and a Trade Consultant who was formerly the Senior Procurement Negotiator with the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Besides an overview of the WTO GPA, the program also featured presentations and discussions on the GPA’s role, principles, and transparency requirements, procedural obligations, and procurement opportunities. The two US advisors provided examples of US implementation, coverage, and experience with the WTO GPA.

The April 25 Open Seminar was followed by two additional training days on April 26-27 in Tsakhkadzor, organized by the WTO Secretariat and EBRD. The program for approximately 30 Armenian government officials featured technical sessions and interactive roundtable discussions on the GPA transparency and procedural rules, Armenia’s coverage commitments, implementation of the revised GPA, GPA’s institutional provisions, the GPA and regional trade agreements, e-procurement, and opportunities for foreign suppliers in the US.