H.E. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Chairs Third Meeting of Ministry of Possibilities’ Department of Government Procurement

His Excellency Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, chaired the third meeting of the Ministry of Possibilities’ department of Government Procurement. The latter was launched in April 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. H.E. assessed the latest developments in the Department of Government Procurement, as well as preparations for its launch in the second quarter of 2020.

The meeting was held at the Ministry of Finance (MoF)’s headquarters in Dubai, with H.E Dr. Harib Bin Saeed Al Amimi, President of State Audit Institution; H.E. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development; H.E. Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing; senior officials from MoF and the UAE Central Bank, along with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Prime Minister's Office.

H.E. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer reiterated the importance of the role the team in the Department of Government Procurement plays, as well as its continual efforts to further financial governance and services. These endeavours push forward the nation’s financial standing when it comes to digital transformation. He also highlighted the efforts exerted in training and qualifying UAE nationals and providing the necessary support to federal authorities. H.E. added that the effective use of federal financial system by authorities will pave the way for optimal use of the government procurement platform.

The platform will act as an intermediary between government agencies and suppliers and will connect all government procurement through an interface based on transparent policies and procedures, which are in adherence with the mechanisms of government procurement and bolster SMEs.

Also assessed at the meeting were the Department of Government Procurement’s progress, and the proposed prototype of a ‘future catalogue,’ which was devised through workshops with federal entities, namely the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and several SMEs.

The workshops identified the project’s priorities, setting a vision for the department and building its operational model based on the requirements of federal entities to ensure a timely launch of the department. Additionally, the team emphasised the need for a Centre of Excellence for Government Procurement at the Ministry of Finance, which will provide expertise to manage the department.

The government procurement platform is one of the first projects of the Ministry of Possibilities, the world’s first virtual ministry, which is currently in its first phase. The Ministry of Possibilities aims to re-engineer government systems and processes, by taking important national files that represent forward-looking government practices in order to find solutions to specific issues within a pre-ordained time.