MoF and Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development Organises Government Procurement Forum for Ministries and Independent Government Agencies

Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME (MBRE), one of the institutions of the Department of Economic Development, held a government procurement forum today at Raffles Hotel, Dubai to inform ministries and independent government agencies on how to deal with members of MBRE, who will register with the federal supplier registration information system. The Forum follows the decree No. 290/14 of the UAE Cabinet for the year 2012, which dedicates that 10 percent of federal government procurement should support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 

The Forum witnessed the participation of HE Mariam Mohammad Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Management of Financial Resources - MoF and HE Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SMEs along with the participation of representatives from ministries and government procurement directors at the federal agencies. 

The government’s procurement forum aims to introduce the ministries and independent government agencies with guidelines on how to support members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development who plan to register as eprocurement suppliers to the federal governments. The forum falls in line with the Ministry’s commitment to strengthen cooperation between both government agencies and SMEs, in order to assist and promote an entrepreneurial culture, a key pillar for the country’s economic development. 

Commenting on the forum, HE Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance said: “We are all aware that HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance had issued ministerial decree No. (20) for the year 2000 on an administration of contracts system, which regulates the rules and procedures for the procurement of materials, construction works and business management contracts for the federal government. In line with the UAE Cabinet’s distinguished directives the Ministry of Finance has been assigned to organize the federal government’s procurement affairs and methods of developing and supervising it, according to Decree No.(3) for the year 2009 issued by the Ministry of Finance on 8^th January 20092009.” 

HE added: “Accordingly, MoF relies on the electronic supplier’s record withthe central registry in order to enable communication and interaction with suppliers of all federal ministries and a number of independent bodies. Moreover, the Ministry has also developed an e-procurement system so that registered suppliers can monitor all the tenders, the federal government practices and participate in it with flexibility and ease in accordance with the rules in force in this regard.” 

For his part, HE Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, said: “We are delighted to have organized this important event, which joins high profile advocates of local enterprises and leading national businessman to review the methodology followed, and the exchange of the foundation’s knowledge and experience which adds value to our local economy and supporting local owners of small and medium size enterprises.” 

HE added; “The forum reflects the joint efforts of government agencies at a local and federal level which serves the vision of our wise leadership, and benefits the owners of small and medium enterprises by providing them with the latest developments in the field. I encourage the supporting parties provided to the young Emiratis at the federal level, which helps to promote sustainable development and to maintain the level of competitiveness in the work field.” 

The federal government e-procurement system will enable members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME development who will register in the supplier’s record to follow all federal government tenders and practices as well as to participate in it with flexibility and ease in accordance with the current rules in this regard. 

 The forum today follows on from an earlier workshop conducted this year to provide members of the MBRE with information and registration guidelines pertaining to the e-procurement system.