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Istanbul, Türkiye, June 8, 2026 — Global policymakers, development partners, and procurement experts are gathering in Istanbul for the 18th PRIMO Forum* to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming public procurement systems and shaping more efficient, transparent, and sustainable public spending.
Hosted in Istanbul, the two-day forum—held under the theme “Smart Public Procurement in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Innovation, Technology and Sustainability”—brings together representatives from international financial institutions, governments, academia, and the private sector to share experiences and advance collaboration.
The forum opens with remarks from senior officials, including representatives from the Public Procurement Authority of Türkiye and the World Bank, underscoring the growing importance of digital transformation in strengthening procurement systems and improving public service delivery.
“As governments navigate increasingly complex challenges, investing in more resilient and adaptive public procurement systems is essential,” said Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye. “Harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence can help countries enhance transparency, improve value for money, and build systems that are better equipped to respond to future shocks.”
Over the course of the forum, participants are examining key dimensions of AI in public procurement, including regulatory frameworks, governance challenges, and emerging use cases across countries. Sessions highlight the importance of data infrastructure, interoperability, and institutional readiness to support the effective deployment of AI tools in procurement processes.
The forum also showcases country experiences from Türkiye and beyond, demonstrating how AI-driven solutions are helping improve procurement planning, contract management, audit processes, and the detection of anti-competitive practices.
Discussions emphasize the role of innovation in advancing sustainable procurement, including the integration of gender considerations and circular economy principles into procurement systems. Participants are also exploring how digital tools can strengthen accountability and generate better development outcomes by increasing efficiency and transparency.
The PRIMO Forum is expected to conclude with a call for stronger international cooperation and knowledge sharing to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled procurement systems, ensuring that technological advances translate into more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready public institutions.
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*The PRIMO (Procurement, Integrity, Management and Openness) Forum is the regional knowledge-exchange platform launched by the World Bank in 2005, is held once every two years in a different country, and brings senior government officials of the public procurement agencies of member countries, global technical experts, and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to share knowledge and experiences on important emerging developments in public procurement with the objective of facilitating enhancement and modernization of public procurement systems.
The 18th PRIMO Forum has been organized by the World Bank in close collaboration with the Public Procurement Authority of Türkiye and with support of the MDB partners Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank.
Tunya Celasin Aydinalp
About The World Bank
The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.
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