E-bidding boosts transparency in Thai public sector

BANGKOK, November 10 (TNA) - The electronic bidding (e-bidding) system, implemented by the Thai government for its procurement projects for nearly three years, has boosted the transparency of the Thai public sector, where state budgets have also been saved consequently. Suttirat Rattanachot, Director-General of the Comptroller General's Department, under the Thai Ministry of Finance, told journalists that the e-bidding procurement system, which has been launched since early 2015, has been applied to over 72,500 public projects so far. Suttirat explained that the e-bidding procurement system relies on electronic functions in all steps, cutting loopholes for bribe-taking and corruption by government officials and, thus, boost transparency in the Thai public sector, as inter-actions between bidders and individual meetings between bidders and government officials have been no longer needed. Suttirat said that the e-bidding procurement system has also helped save state budgets for handling the system, through a reduced cost of the personnel employment. According to the senior official, the Thai government could save over 98.5 billion baht for the e-bidding procurement system of over 72,500 projects during February 16, 2015-August 30, 2017, most of which, or almost 50 per cent, were construction plans. (TNA)