Mips calls for e-procurement

The Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply (Mips) says the adoption of e-procurement may help to reduce incidences of corruption associated with the buying of goods and services in public and private institutions.

E-procurement, sometimes also known as supplier exchange, is the business to business or business to consumers or business to government purchase and sales of supplies, work and services through the Internet as well as other information and networking systems.

Mips chief executive officer Gladys Mwale said last week in Blantyre that e-procurement is the direction that procurement entities have to take to enhance confidence in the public.

“We are encouraging organisations to engage in e-procurement. This would avoid physical contact and, in a way, reduce the likelihood of corruption. The probability of people engaging in corruption is high when there is individual contact,” said Mwale.

She said e-procurement also improves on efficiency in procurements issues, stressing that this is what developed countries are doing.

Mwale was speaking when she received K350 000 from FDH Bank to help Mips host a two-day annual conference in Mangochi in September under the theme: ‘Boosting the bottom-line through procurement and supply management’.

Mips was established in 2008 and since then, it has been instrumental in regulating the operations and standards of the procurement professionals in the country.

FDH Bank marketing manager Violet Mangani said the bank has been partnering with the Mips to ensure that they create an opportunity for continuous improvement in procurement policies, processes and procedures in both the private and public sectors.

“The professional members of the body also provide an opportunity to supporting small and medium enterprises which is an active sector for the development of the banking sector and interest segment for the bank,” said Mangani.

She said, as a bank, they want to support the enforcement of efficiency, professionalism and good corporate governance principles that Mips aspire to deliver.