At its 100th session, the Government Procurement Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reviewed its achievements and welcomed new observers. Martin Zbinden of Switzerland, Chair of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) Committee, spoke about the committee's distinctive position within the WTO.
"This Committee is unique, not just because it is a plurilateral WTO committee that operates under Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement," Zbinden said. "It is unique also because it is the only global forum for intergovernmental cooperation focusing on the intersection of trade and government procurement."
He continued: "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."
Zbinden noted that since the GPA took effect in 1994, 22 more members have joined the agreement. He also mentioned the renegotiation that led to GPA 2012, which enhanced market access and trade rules. Over time, the committee has developed work programs on issues such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sustainability. In 2024, it published a report on best practices to support SME participation in government procurement.
Guatemala became an observer to the committee on June 13, 2025. At the October 15 meeting, Ambassador Eduardo Ernesto Sperisen-Yurt of Guatemala stated: "This step reflects our firm commitment to the principles of transparency, fair competition and good governance that underpin the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)."
He added: "Guatemala recognizes 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 harmonizing our national practices with international standards."
Barbados was also welcomed as an observer, becoming the 38th country to hold this status on October 6. Ambassador Matthew Wilson 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). Our aim is 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."
A workshop titled "Women entrepreneurs and government procurement: Lessons learned" took place alongside the meeting. The event was organized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba and included a panel discussion on ways to support women-led businesses in government procurement. Geoffrey B. Wever, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector of Aruba, addressed participants through a video message.