RESTRICTED  
  
GPA/M/66  
 
14 November 2016  
(16-6236) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Government Procurement    
 
 MINUTES OF THE FORMA L MEETING OF 19 OCTO BER 2016  
CHAIRM AN: MR JOHN NEWHAM  (IRELAND)  
1.  The Chairman  said that, in preparation for the me eting, delegations had received an Airgram1 
setting out the proposed agenda . The proposed agenda was as follows : 
1. Request fo r Observer Status  under the Agreement on Government Procurement 
(GPA) : Kazakhstan ; and  
2. Other business.  
2.  No items of other business had been proposed  by delegations.   
3.  The Committee  adopted  the agenda, as proposed by the Chairman.  
4.  The Chairman  said that Kazak hstan's  request for observer status in the Committee had been  
circulated on 5 September 2016 .2 This was a  very significant and welcome development for the 
Committee. The Committee should now take a decision on  Kazakhstan's request , pursuant to the 
relevant  provisions of the Agreement . 
5.  The Committee agreed  to grant observer status to Kazakhstan , pursuant to the relevant 
provisions of the Agreement .  
6.  The Chairman  extend ed a warm welcome to Kazakhstan  in its new capacity  as an observer to 
the Committee .  
7.  The representative of Kazakhstan  - the Vice -Minister of Finance  of the Republic of Kazakhstan - 
express ed the deep appreciation of his Government to the Committee  for granting Kazakhstan's  
request. At its  June 2016 meeting , he had  briefed the Committee about re cent developments in 
the capital  in the field of government procurement . Most recently, earlier in the month of 
October  2016, Kazakhstan had participated in the OECD 's Public Procurement Week, during which  
further steps regarding  the process for a future review of the government procurement system  of 
Kazakhstan had been  discussed . This review would be undertaken on the basis of  an analysis of 
compliance with the 12 principles of the OECD Council's Recommendation on Public Procurement . 
It was anticipated  that the Ministry of Finance would  initiate  the review process by the end of 
October  2016.  
8.  Kazakhstan strongly support ed the idea that an efficient and effective government procurement 
system is the backbone of a well -functioning government. The government pr ocurement sector 
contributes  importantly to ensuring  a level playing field for the private sector and to the efficient 
delivery of  public services.  The Government of Kazakhstan was of the view that observer status in 
the Committee would  provide an excellen t opportunity for Kazakhstan to learn and better 
understand the multilateral framework on government procurement, and successfully integrate 
and contribute to the system . It believed, in this regard,  that its experience gained in the GPA  
setting , together with Kazakhstan's ongoing cooperation with the OECD , would be very beneficial 
for the country , helping to  improve its domestic laws and regulations  in this area. While a 
considerable  amount of work lay ahead , and his Government needed to conduct a careful 
                                                
1 WTO/AIR/GPA/8 , dated  7 October  2016. 
2 GPA/W/338 , dated 5 September 2016.  GPA/M/66  
 
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  assess ment of the costs and benefits of acceding to  the Agreement, he was hopeful that a 
mutually beneficial solution for Kazakhstan and all Parties  would be found. His  Government stood  
ready to work constructively with Parties and the Secretariat in its c apacity as  observer to the 
Committee.  
9.  The representatives of the European Union , Tajikistan , the United States of America  and 
Chinese Taipei  congratulated Kazakhstan on its becoming an observer to the Committee.  
10.  Continuing, the representative of the Europ ean Union  said that the  European Union  had an 
existing  partnership and cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan which included government  
procurement commitments . It stood ready to assist and work with the delegation of Kazakhstan 
toward a swift  start to Kazakhstan's  GPA accession process. The most recent accessions  had 
demonstrated  that it was possible for an acceding Member to complete its accession process in an 
expeditious  manner  and to becom e a full -fledge d Party to the Agreement  on mutually satisfactory 
terms . The European Union encourage d Kazakhstan to proceed as swiftly as possible towards the 
initiation of its accession process . 
11.  The representative of Tajikistan  said that his delegation wished Kazakhstan full success in its 
accession negotiations, whene ver they were initiated. Tajikistan considered implementation of the 
GPA as an important aspect of international trade and a significant tool in ensuring transparent 
and safe practices in the field of government procurement.  
12.  The representative of the Unite d States of America  said that his delegation shared the view 
expressed by Kazakhstan that GPA observership was one of the best way s to learn about the 
benefit s of membership  of the Agreement . The United States  encourage d Kazakhstan to take full 
advantage o f its observer  status,  and looked forward to Kazakhstan taking the decision to initiate 
its accession process  in the foreseeable  future . 
13.  The representative of  Chinese Taipei  said that his delegation  looked forward to work ing closely 
and constructively with  Kazakhstan as it learned more about the benefits of the Agreement, and to 
assisting and supporting Kazakhstan's accession process whenever it was initiated.  
14.  The Chairman  said that Kazakhstan  had set out firm ambitions with regard to  future progress 
conce rning its government procurement system. T he Committee clearly and wholeheartedly 
welcome d Kazakhstan  as an observer to the Committee . On behalf of the Committee , he remind ed 
Kazakhstan of the opportunity to receive technical assistance from the Secretaria t for any support 
that it might need. Meanwhile, he himself remained available to offer any needed support.  
 
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