OPAZ hosted a workshop on sustainable strategic procurement

The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) today (29 January 2026) concluded a specialised workshop on ‘Sustainable Strategic Procurement and the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises’, held for procurement and contracting specialists across special economic zones and free zones.

In its closing session, the workshop stressed the importance of adopting sustainable strategic procurement as an effective tool to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen economic sustainability, and support the growth of SMEs, thereby contributing to the Authority’s targets and reinforcing its role in economic development.

Over five days, the workshop discussed the principles and objectives of sustainable strategic procurement, mechanisms for integrating sustainability criteria into procurement policies and procedures, best practices for supporting and developing SMEs, and the role of procurement and contracting professionals in achieving sustainable economic development.

The programme also highlighted the Rabt platform launched by Madayn in cooperation with the Industrial Innovation Academy and the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content. The platform aims to link local companies and factories with government procurement and tenders, and to enhance local content in government contracts and purchasing.

The workshop formed part of OPAZ’s ongoing efforts to build the capacities of procurement and contracting specialists in sustainable strategic procurement, promote best practices that improve procurement efficiency and value for money, support sustainability in supply chains and improve supply quality, enable effective SME participation in procurement and contracting, and align procurement practices with OPAZ’s strategic goals