The Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the Government Procurement Guidelines in a bid to assist local industries.
The Cabinet pointed out that although provisions are furnished for local selections in the government procurement guidelines, it has been observed there are certain limits to achieve benefits for the local suppliers and companies from those provisions.
Under the circumstances generated due to COVID – 19 pandemic conditions, local companies, and entrepreneurs expect more assistance from the government.
Taking this fact too into consideration, the Cabinet said it has been observed that the following selections are suitable to be provided for the local industries that can generate more employment opportunities and can add value such as for furniture and equipment, software, and hardware and construction.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the following proposals submitted by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy Development for providing an opportunity for local selection.
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Companies that have at least 51% of ownership of Sri Lankan citizens and for local companies that have accomplished a period of 5 years after being recognized for procurement of goods and services for the state institutions.
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Procurement of office furniture and equipment only from local producers having at least a minimum of 50% of local value addition.
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Procurement of all the software requirements only from local companies and if difficult to act accordingly, procurement of such necessary goods from non-local companies subject to the approval of Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency.
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Sri Lanka Information and Communication Technology Agency manufacture the specifications relevant to the computer hardware required for state institutions and if any institution makes a local value addition of 25% they are to provide a 30% selection at the procurement evaluation process.
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All constructions including houses. highways, irrigation. water supply and sewage systems should be awarded to local contractors while the value of the contracts if given the subcontracts to foreign contractors; those contracts should not exceed 10% from the contract value without temporary funds.
The Issuance of the amended procurement guidelines is in consultations with the National Procurement Commission. (Newswire)