International Trade in Services.pdf - DSpace at Khazar University

304 International Trade in Services
However, electronic means can support integrity and enhance transparency. Publicizing
the terms of procurement initiatives and information on the related procedural
aspects and timelines can provide a level playing field for bidders. Audit
and enforcement can provide integrity. Eliminating bribes, political contributions,
facilitation payments, gifts, hospitality, and expenses that influence procurement
awards will lower the cost for engineering professionals to participate in
the market. Correcting distorted administrative practices requires political commitment,
possibly legislation, and enforcement capability. Initiatives to counter
corruption that effectively address the public and private sectors can reduce distortions
in the engineering service marketplace.
In addition, public procurement may be used as a means to advance specific
social objectives. For example, according to Rustomjee (2007), in South Africa,
public procurement is explicitly used to achieve the following:
• Safety: compulsory registration among the firms bidding in public service tenders
• Consumer protection: registration to ensure that engineers are qualified, perform
with integrity, deliver quality, and allow redress
• Industry development: accreditation graded according to the capacity and
track record of the respective firm
• Employment creation: uses structured progression from small contractors to
larger corporate entities
• Empowerment of historically disadvantaged people
With a view to promote trade, policies to achieve these objectives can be designed
to be nondiscriminatory and to advance the transfer of professional expertise. For
example, occupational safety requirements should be made publicly available and
applied consistently to local and foreign firms. Consumer protection rules that
mandate indemnity requirements should be the same for local and foreign firms.
The same should be true for technology transfer and training requirements.
Policy makers can examine rules at home and abroad to determine if they distort
the competitive position of foreign firms relative to local firms.
Promoting quality education and training in engineering
A number of developing economies are poised to take advantage of the increasing
demand for engineering professionals. For example, colleges of engineering
in Morocco maintain high standards of educational excellence. Students experience
a rigorous curriculum and take advantage of formal links with colleges in
the region, in Europe, and in North America. Graduates obtain degrees that are
highly regarded in export markets of interest. At the same time, only 4 students