Thimphu:South Korea has engaged in discussions on implementing artificial intelligence-driven procurement systems with Asian counterparts during a global conference in Bhutan, as reported by the procurement agency on Tuesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Public Procurement Service (PPS) of South Korea took part in the 11th Conference of the Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network, held on Monday in Thimphu, Bhutan. During this event, South Korea presented its initiatives in developing intelligent procurement systems powered by AI and data.

The conference, hosted by Bhutan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), attracted participants from approximately 40 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on enhancing e-procurement systems through AI and data technologies.

Participants at the conference exchanged ideas on advancing sustainable procurement practices that integrate environmental and social considerations, as mentioned by the procurement agency.

In his keynote address, Kang Sung-min, vice administrator of the PPS, emphasized that e-procurement should evolve towards intelligent systems capable of forecasting demand and identifying anomalies early using AI and data. He highlighted the increasing significance of procurement officials possessing the necessary expertise to ensure decisions adhere to fairness and transparency principles.

Kang further stated that the PPS would maintain close collaboration with the ADB and member countries, concentrating on intelligent e-procurement, sustainable procurement, and enhancing expertise to support the growth of public procurement in the Asia-Pacific region.