A Web site designed as a one-stop shop for government contracting opportunities around the globe has added China to its growing list of featured countries.
The announcement of China’s participation comes during the same week that the country’s vice premier is in town to discuss U.S.-China trade relations with President Bush and other senior-level administration officials.
The Web site, dgMarket.com, is run by D.C.-based nonprofit Development Gateway Foundation, an organization that uses the Internet to benefit developing nations. The site posts $500 billion in government procurement opportunities from 150 countries, including the U.S. China has nearly 500 government contracts posted on the site.
“China’s joining dgMarket is another step in that country’s efforts to make government contracting even more open and competitive,’ said Mark Fleeton, CEO of Development Gateway Foundation.
But some critics argue that publishing contracts on the site doesn’t mean it will create more opportunities for foreign companies in China. “China’s getting listed on a Web site doesn’t mean a whole lot,” said Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and former chief economist at the U.S. International TradeCommission. “They’re trying to create the illusion of openness when they’re a closed economy. China wants you to think it’s open for business when it’s not.”
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, with a delegation of more than 200 business executives in tow, was in Washington this week for the 17th annual Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. One of the main issues discussed during the meeting was transparency in federal procurement.
China agreed to begin negotiations to join the World Trade Organization’s federal procurement agreement, a 28-country mechanism designed to foster international competition within the procurement process.
Morici said China’s decision to negotiate entry into the WTO pact needs to be followed up with action. “There isn’t going to be a profound change until they come into the WTO procurement code,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In service
Other Development Gateway Foundation programs:
» AiDA: An online directory that tracks international aid activities
» e-Government Grants Program: Provides seed funding for e-government projects
» dgCommunities: Online discussions of about 30 topics relevant to developing nations
