New procurement agency will strengthen transparency and curb corruption, PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said the government has established a unified procurement agency aimed at increasing transparency and preventing corruption in public purchasing procedures.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze said the new body would oversee procurement processes from start to finish and help ensure that public contracts are conducted under stricter controls and transparent procedures.

According to the prime minister, the reform forms part of broader efforts to eliminate corruption and improve governance standards.

"Very important steps have been taken to eradicate corruption, and procurement is one of the key areas in this regard," Kobakhidze said.

He stated that procurement procedures had already been significantly improved and that the creation of the new agency added an institutional layer to the reforms.

The prime minister said all procurement processes would be fully transparent under the new system, with the agency responsible for organising and monitoring procedures across the public sector.

"We take full responsibility for ensuring that corrupt deals are excluded from procurement processes," Kobakhidze said. "This will be guaranteed both by the new unified agency and by the transparent procedures that have been introduced into the system."

Kobakhidze argued that the reforms would strengthen accountability and reduce opportunities for misconduct in government procurement.