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10/12/2004
Local businesses must compete for public contracts says Forum
Local small and medium sized businesses must gear up to compete for a greater share of the £1.8bn available in public procurement contracts.
That was the key message at yesterday’s meeting of the Economic Development Forum, held at Queen’s University, Belfast.
The Forum heard from Government’s Central Procurement Directorate which oversees the allocation of over £1.8bn every year in government contracts.
Economy Minister and Chair of the Forum, Barry Gardiner, said, “Public procurement is big business for Northern Ireland. Whatever the business of an SME, there are likely to be markets within the public sector in which it can compete.
“Central Procurement Directorate has made it clear it is determined to work with local businesses to reduce barriers to accessing valuable public sector contracts.
“But local businesses need to be geared up to win these contracts and must think innovatively about how best to compete.”
Forum members also discussed the draft Economic Vision for Northern Ireland. Thanking members for their participation in developing the draft vision, the Minister said: “The draft economic vision paper outlines the clear objective to make Northern Ireland one of the most competitive and productive UK and international regions. It puts the economy at the heart of Northern Ireland’s future through greater wealth creation and better employment opportunities for all.”
At yesterday’s meeting, members also discussed a wide range of issues, including ongoing work to refine the Forum’s medium term strategic priorities framework; DEL’s Employability Taskforce; DRD’s Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS); and Government’s response to the recently published Food Strategy Group’s ‘Fit for Market’ report.
(MB)
That was the key message at yesterday’s meeting of the Economic Development Forum, held at Queen’s University, Belfast.
The Forum heard from Government’s Central Procurement Directorate which oversees the allocation of over £1.8bn every year in government contracts.
Economy Minister and Chair of the Forum, Barry Gardiner, said, “Public procurement is big business for Northern Ireland. Whatever the business of an SME, there are likely to be markets within the public sector in which it can compete.
“Central Procurement Directorate has made it clear it is determined to work with local businesses to reduce barriers to accessing valuable public sector contracts.
“But local businesses need to be geared up to win these contracts and must think innovatively about how best to compete.”
Forum members also discussed the draft Economic Vision for Northern Ireland. Thanking members for their participation in developing the draft vision, the Minister said: “The draft economic vision paper outlines the clear objective to make Northern Ireland one of the most competitive and productive UK and international regions. It puts the economy at the heart of Northern Ireland’s future through greater wealth creation and better employment opportunities for all.”
At yesterday’s meeting, members also discussed a wide range of issues, including ongoing work to refine the Forum’s medium term strategic priorities framework; DEL’s Employability Taskforce; DRD’s Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS); and Government’s response to the recently published Food Strategy Group’s ‘Fit for Market’ report.
(MB)
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