Korea's Procurement Service shares AI-based e-procurement know-how with Asia-Pacific
In short
South Korea's Public Procurement Service said it attended the 11th general assembly of the Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network (APPeN) in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Oct. 5 and shared its e-procurement innovation experience and its direction for AI- and data-based “intelligent procurement”. Deputy Administrator Kang Seong-min gave a keynote and presented the next-generation Nara Market, built with AI, big data and cloud technologies. The Oct. 5–6 meeting was co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank and the Bhutanese government, with procurement officials from about 40 countries attending.
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The Public Procurement Service said it attended the 11th general assembly of the Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network (APPeN) in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Oct. 5 and shared South Korea's e-procurement innovation and its direction for AI- and data-based intelligent procurement. The agency announced the participation on Oct. 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
At the assembly, the agency presented its next-generation Nara Market, which applies artificial intelligence, big data and cloud technologies, according to the reports. It also described the trial and error it went through from the early days of introducing e-procurement to building and upgrading the system, aiming to give member countries practical know-how they can use, Asia Economy reported. [ 1 , 3 ]
Deputy Administrator Kang Seong-min said in a keynote speech that e-procurement should move toward “intelligent procurement” that uses data and AI to predict procurement demand and identify anomalies early, and that the more technology advances, the more the expertise of procurement officials deciding on the basis of fairness and transparency matters. He said the agency would contribute to public procurement in the Asia-Pacific through intelligent e-procurement, sustainable procurement and stronger expertise, working closely with the Asian Development Bank and member countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
APPeN was launched in 2015 by the Public Procurement Service and the ADB as a regional e-procurement cooperation body aimed at spreading e-procurement and improving transparency and efficiency in procurement administration. The agency said only 10 countries had introduced e-procurement when APPEeN was founded, while most member countries have since adopted such systems. [ 1 , 3 ]
The 11th assembly is being held Oct. 5–6, co-hosted by the ADB and the government of Bhutan. About 40 countries' procurement officials and representatives of international organizations are attending to discuss making e-procurement systems more intelligent with AI and data, sustainable procurement that takes environmental and social values into account, and ways to strengthen the expertise of e-procurement officials, according to the reports. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The meeting is a channel for exporting Korea's public e-procurement model, which the agency frames as a way to improve transparency and efficiency in the region. For readers outside the region, the practical effect is limited: the documents describe knowledge-sharing and a keynote, not procurement contracts or binding agreements. APPEeN's stated membership growth in e-procurement adoption suggests the forum's work continues, but no measurable outcome is given in the documents.
Key facts
- The Public Procurement Service attended the 11th Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network (APPeN) general assembly in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Oct. 5 and shared Korea's e-procurement innovation experience. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The agency presented its next-generation Nara Market, which applies artificial intelligence, big data and cloud technologies, and shared lessons from building and upgrading the system. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Deputy Administrator Kang Seong-min delivered a keynote speech at the assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- APPeN was launched in 2015 by the Public Procurement Service and the Asian Development Bank to spread e-procurement and improve transparency and efficiency in procurement administration. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The 11th assembly is being held Oct. 5–6, co-hosted by the ADB and the government of Bhutan, with procurement officials and international organization representatives from about 40 countries. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Agenda items include using AI and data to make e-procurement systems more intelligent, sustainable procurement that considers environmental and social values, and strengthening the expertise of e-procurement officials. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Public Procurement Service attended the 11th APPEeN general assembly in Thimphu, Bhutan, and shared Korea's e-procurement innovation experience and AI- and data-based procurement direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Deputy Administrator Kang Seong-min gave a keynote speech at the assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The agency shared its next-generation Nara Market case applying AI, big data and cloud technologies. [ 1 , 3 ]
- APPeN was launched in 2015 by the Public Procurement Service and the Asian Development Bank. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact number of participating countries and officials. Documents say about 40 countries' procurement officials and international organization representatives attended, without a precise figure or attendance list.
- Whether the assembly produced any agreements, declarations or joint plans. The documents describe presentations and agenda topics but report no outcome, decision or joint statement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy publishes a report on the agency's participation in the APPEeN general assembly and its sharing of the next-generation Nara Market case. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes its report, quoting Kang Seong-min's keynote on intelligent procurement. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes its report on the sharing of the AI-based intelligent procurement system. [ 3 ]