The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will directly negotiate with companies for development of big projects instead of inviting bids through global tender.
In an interview with Setopati, chief advisor to the prime minister Bishnu Rimal said the current process of inviting global bids is lengthy and the new process will expedite the system of selecting companies for the projects. "There will be bidding even in this process. We will set certain criteria and negotiate directly with the companies that express interest instead of going for global tender," Rimal said.
"There have been problems and corruption even while inviting global bids. We all know there are delays while adopting the process," he argued when asked if there will be transparency in the process of directly negotiating with the companies. "There will still be regulations and procedures to be followed during such negotiations. There will be laws to guide how much of the Public Procurement Act will have to be followed."
He added that the PMO will form a steering committee to oversee projects of national pride and bring sunset laws to expedite implementation of the projects.
The committee will remove some hasslesome aspects of public procurement. "We will bring sunset laws, that are valid only for a specific period, applicable only for these national pride projects to expedite these projects," Rimal stated.
He said there will still be restrictions in selection of companies and it will not be done in arbitrary manner. "We will put restrictions where necessary. International laws and conventions also bind us. We cannot violate them," he pointed.
He revealed that the ministries concerned would implement the projects like now and the steering committee, to be chaired by the PM and including finance minister and line ministers of the projects, will only facilitate implementation and supervise progress.
