MONTERREY, Mexico: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank) reinforced its commitment to advancing modern, transparent, and innovative public procurement systems across the Caribbean at the 20th Annual Conference of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP), held in Monterrey, Mexico from August 12-14.

A key outcome of this year’s conference was the adoption of the Monterrey Declaration: Innovation as a Driver of Public Procurement Transformation, which positions innovation as a strategic pillar for the evolution of public procurement across the Americas. The Declaration calls for technology-driven reforms, enhanced professional capacity, and greater collaboration to strengthen transparency, accountability, competition, and value for money.

For CDB’s Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs), the agenda is particularly relevant as governments seek to strengthen public institutions, improve the efficiency of public spending, and maximise the development impact of limited public resources.

Mrs. Naomi Akoy-Bouguenon, Acting Division Chief, Procurement Policy Division at CDB, said the Declaration provides an important framework for advancing procurement reform across the region.

“Public procurement is much more than an administrative process. It is a strategic lever for development, with direct implications for how effectively governments translate public resources into better services and stronger outcomes for citizens,” said Akoy-Bouguenon.

“The Monterrey Declaration recognises the opportunity to harness innovation, digital technologies, stronger professional capacity, and regional collaboration to make procurement systems more transparent, efficient, and responsive. CDB is pleased to contribute to this regional dialogue and to support our BMCs as they strengthen the institutions and systems that underpin effective development.”

The conference also featured the inaugural Expo INGP 2026, bringing together public- and private-sector leaders and showcasing technological, digital, and sustainable solutions aimed at transforming procurement processes.

Discussions highlighted the growing importance of procurement systems that are not only compliant and transparent, but also agile enough to respond to emerging priorities, leverage new technologies, and create greater opportunities for innovation and sustainable development.

As a permanent supporting partner and member of the Inter-American Network on Government Procurement (INGP), whose membership includes all CDB BMCs, the Bank co-organised the event alongside the Organization of American States (OAS), which hosts the INGP Technical Secretariat, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Secretary of Administration of the Government of the State of Nuevo León, and Mexico's Secretary of Anti-Corruption and Good Governance. Each year, CDB sponsors the participation of procurement directors and other high-level procurement authorities from each BMC at the INGP Annual Conference, supporting regional dialogue and knowledge-sharing on public procurement reform.

CDB’s engagement forms part of its broader support for stronger institutions and effective development financing across the Caribbean, in line with the Bank’s 2026-2035 strategic vision. Through policy dialogue, technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building, the Bank works with its BMCs to strengthen procurement frameworks and practices, improve institutional performance, and support better development outcomes.

The outcomes of the XX INGP Conference and the Monterrey Declaration are expected to inform future regional collaboration and support the continued transformation of public procurement systems throughout the Americas. 

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Photo caption: From left to right: Naomi Akoy-Bouguenon, Acting Division Chief, Procurement Policy Division, Caribbean Development Bank; Alejandro Encina Najera, Undersecretary for Good Governance, Secretariat for Anticorruption and Good Governance, Mexico; Javier Luis Navarro Velasco, Coordinator of the Cabinet of State of Nueva León, Mexico; Helena Fonseca, Principal Specialist of the OAS Public Procurement Program, INGP Technical Secretariat; Juan Agustín Encina, INGP President 2026-2028, National Director of Public Procurement, Paraguay; Gloria Morales, Secretary of Administration, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico; and Germán Zappani, Chief of Operations, Mexico Office Country, Inter-American Development Bank.