US initiative brings together public-private partnership experts in Prague
From July 17-19, the U.S. and Eastern Europe Regional Working Group on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Public Procurement held its first meeting in Prague, Czech Republic. This initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, includes representatives from eight countries: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Lithuania. Lithuania is represented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA).
The primary goal of the first meeting was to share best practices in public procurement and PPP projects, with a special focus on infrastructure projects. Each member country presented an overview of their current PPP and public procurement practices, legal environments, challenges and plans for improving the efficiency of PPP projects. Experts from the U.S. shared their knowledge and experience on long-term planning of PPP projects, their evaluation, risk identification, effective management and other related issues.
The next meeting of the working group is scheduled for October 14-16 in Bucharest, Romania.
Currently, CPVA is also a member of four other international PPP networks: the OECD's Network of Senior Infrastructure and PPP Officials (SIP Network), the Bureau of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships, the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC) and the World Association of PPP Units & PPP Professionals (WAPP).
