GeM will have same efficiency as e-commerce sites: Lavasa

The government e-marketplace (GeM) will enable its departments to make use of best technologies and procure goods and services with the same ease and efficiency that is presently offered by e-commerce sites, a top Finance Ministry official said here on Monday.

"GeM will enable the government buyers to make the best use of new technologies to procure goods and services in a more transparent, accountable and efficient manner and with the same ease and efficiency that is presently offered by e-commerce sites," Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said.

Speaking at the one-day hands-on training programme on GeM for government users, he said that GeM has been developed within a short span of five months.

GeM is an online and end-to-end integrated e-procurement portal for purchase of goods and services of common use by the government buyers.

"Although it has been made mandatory on GeM to make payment to the vendors within 10 days of receipt of goods or services, efforts should be made to further reduce this time span as ultimately the cost of delayed payment is born by the government," he said.

GeM has a potential to grow and will bring in a lot of credibility and comfort in procurement decision-making within the government, he added.

--IANS

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