CAREC Institute Holds a Chai Talk on Green Public Procurement
On 23 April 2025, the CAREC Institute hosted a Chai Talk on Green Public Procurement (GPP). The session focused on the implementation of GPP in Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and the board Central Asia region sharing key progress and lessons learned.
Dr. Nurgali Rakhmanov, GPP expert for Kazakhstan under the EU SWITCH-Asia PSC and based in Almaty, underscored the significance of GPP in meeting climate objectives and promoting inclusive economic growth. He highlighted the pivotal role of public procurement in driving sustainable development and aligning economic expansion with environmental responsibility. While Kazakhstan benefits from strong policy backing for GPP, challenges remain in policy coordination and clear alignment of the regulations. Furthermore, Dr. Rakhmanov emphasized the role of state oversight and accuracy of the criteria and indicators to track GPP implementation.
Ms. Deng Qiuyun, Associate Professor at the Xiamen National Accounting Institute (XNAI), PRC, presented China’s robust legal framework for GPP, which includes a mandatory green product catalogue and various initiatives that have effectively reduced energy consumption and pollutant emissions. She identified cost constraints, fragmented standards, and implementation inconsistencies as key barriers, and recommended expanding mandatory GPP into additional sectors and enhancing integration with digital technologies.
Ms. Amgalan Luvsandamba, Senior Officer at the Ministry of Finance of Mongolia, shared Mongolia’s initiatives to align GPP with its National Green Development Policy and Sustainable Development Vision 2030. Despite recent legal provisions, implementation is hindered by limited awareness, market readiness, and weak regulatory support across certain sectors.
Dr. Maria Arnal Canudo, Research Analyst at the World Bank, emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination, compliance with national and sectoral policies and the need for reliable data to assess the impacts of GPP. She noted the growing interest among governments in evaluating the cost-effectiveness and broader societal benefits of green procurement policies. The market readiness assessment, furthermore, was highlighted as an important part of the GPP.
In conclusion, the Chai Talk underscored the essential role of GPP in advancing sustainable development and highlighted the challenges and opportunities for its adoption in Central Asia. The discussion emphasized the need for integrated policy frameworks, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and data-informed approaches to scale GPP initiatives globally. The expert conversations shed light on the current gaps in policy research and capacity building, emphasizing the need for further knowledge development. China and Kazakhstan are at the forefront of GGP, providing valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration among the CAREC countries.