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Digitalisation focus at Procurement Middle East

01 May 2019

Procurement Middle East 2019 conference and exhibition, which this year focused on digitalisation, was held last month in Bahrain featuring over 20 high-profile speakers.

The three-day event also had a workshop on VAT and its impact on the industry, and an exhibition showcasing procurement chain automation solutions.

Bahrain is poised to make a major leap in its digital transformation, as it embraces the latest generation of smart procurement systems, commonly referred to as Procurement 4.0, the kingdom’s Minister of Housing and Tender Board chairman, Bassim Bin Yacob Al Hamer, said at the event.

“Connected networks enable us to not only gather information but to draw meaningful insights from vast quantities of seemingly unrelated data,” he said. “As such, the role of procurement leaders is changing. As their day-to-day tasks are taken over by cloud-based applications, they can focus on strategic priorities, such as strengthening supply chain resilience, safeguarding their brands from third-party risk, and cultivating new sources of innovation.”

“Over the years, Bahrain has developed a world-class regulatory environment that ensures excellence and competitiveness in all government tendering and purchasing practices, which in turn, has significantly boosted global investor confidence in the kingdom, facilitated private sector growth, and positioned us as a business-friendly destination. At the Tender Board, we are focused on making business in Bahrain easier and more efficient.”

The event also saw the launch of the Procurement Middle East Industry Recognition Awards, which celebrated achievements in the procurement sector in the region. The Procurement Team Award went to the Municipality and Planning Department of Ajman Municipality, while the Procurement Risk Management Award went to Bahrain-based Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC).