AMCHAM NEWS
& Challenges in the
Macedonia
Jess L. Baily, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Skopje
From left: Daniel Gordon, George Washington University; Peter
Stefan, EVN Macedonia; Aleksandar Argirovski, Public Procurement
Bureau
AmCham’s main event with businesspeople was on March 4th, 2015
and focused on Trends & Challenges in the Procurement Profession in Macedonia. With over 60 participants from the business
community, the roundtable discussion was perhaps the first gathering of local private sector procurement professionals. In addition
to Mr. Gordon, Mr. Stefan Peter, President of the Management board of EVN Macedonia and Mr. Aleksandar Argirovski,
Director of the Public Procurement Bureau shared their insights as
professionals with extensive procurement backgrounds.
The discussion underscored that the procurement work in the public and private
spheres is similar but goals and approaches
could be quite distinct. For example, in public procurement, negotiations are usually
impossible due to fears that direct contact
encourages corruption. In the private sector, purchasing goods and services without
direct contact and negotiations is practically
unthinkable.
All present agreed that fear of punishment
cannot motivate current procurement professionals and is more likely to discourage
young people from entering the profession.
Event participants gave the event high rating
and pointed out that only stable, determine
and top employees should work in procurement, whether in the public or private
sectors.
Spring 2015
Issue 45 23