On 15 October 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) advised that at the meeting of its Committee on Government Procurement (GPA), parties to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) had marked the 100th formal meeting of the Committee since the adoption of the GPA in April 1994. Parties looked back at the work undertaken by the Committee, highlighting its role in promoting the exchange of best practices and fostering transparency and good governance in public procurement. Parties also welcomed delegations from Barbados and Guatemala, who participated in a Committee meeting for the first time as observers.
Addressing the 100th session of the Committee, the chair highlighted the unique status of the Committee within the WTO framework.
“This Committee is unique, not just because it is a plurilateral WTO committee that operates under Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement,” the chair said. “It is unique also because it is the only global forum for intergovernmental cooperation focusing on the intersection of trade and government procurement.”
The chair added: “It should give all of us satisfaction that the Committee keeps on attracting interest among the rest of the WTO membership, which demonstrates its value and significance.”
New observers
Guatemala became an observer to the Committee on 13 June 2025. At the meeting on 15 October, Ambassador Eduardo Ernesto Sperisen-Yurt of Guatemala said: “This step reflects our firm commitment to the principles of transparency, fair competition and good governance that underpin the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).”
The chair added: “Guatemala recognises government procurement as an essential instrument for sustainable development, the promotion of economic efficiency and the strengthening of public institutions. Our participation as an observer to this Committee represents an invaluable opportunity to learn from members’ experiences, strengthen our capacities, and move toward harmonising our national practices with international standards.”
The Committee also welcomed Barbados, which became the 38th observer to the Committee on 06 October 2025. At the Committee meeting, the Ambassador of Barbados said: “We view this engagement as an opportunity to strengthen our institutional frameworks and to align our public procurement systems with international best practices, consistent with the principles upheld under the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). We aim to build a procurement system that supports competition, enhances the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourages the integration of environmentally sustainable and socially responsible practices.”
Workshop
An information-sharing workshop titled “Women entrepreneurs and government procurement: Lessons learned” was held on 15 October 2025 in conjunction with the Committee meeting. Organised by the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba, the event featured a panel discussion, bringing together speakers from various backgrounds to highlight approaches to supporting women-led businesses in government procurement. The Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector of Aruba addressed the workshop via a video message.