Matambo said for governments, public procurement is particularly important as it accounts for a significant proportion of GDP. "In Botswana, it is estimated that about 60 percent of the government development budget is spent through the public procurement system," the minister said. "There is no doubt, therefore, that procurement systems play a critical role in facilitating the realisation of government's development goals."

Efficient procurement procedures should contribute to efficient project implementation and service delivery. Matambo added that public systems must be integrated with the development planning framework and budgetary approval processes. He noted that Botswana's Public Procurement and Asset Board (PPADB) is implementing a web-based system with various procurement modules to assist the board in the effective and efficient delivery of its mandate. "This should also enable the board to decentralise its services away from a central point to the procuring entities and bidding communities beyond the confines of the PPADB offices in Gaborone," Minister Matambo said.

He appealed to the conference to strive to establish a peer review mechanism aimed at enhancing transparency and performance of the public procurement system. The conference, he added, should also assist participants to come up with innovations for improving performance, thereby positively impacting on project implementation and service delivery.