"Black list" of the World Bank without Serbian companies

(World Bank)

On the "black list" of the World Bank, there are no Serbian companies that are disqualified because of the irregularities in public procurements or individual contracts concluded for loans, construction, delivery of goods or services - said the senior procurement specialist for WB, Jose Martinez.

- As far as I know there aren't any Serbian companies on the list - Martinez said at the Assembly in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, organized to introduce members of the Chamber of Commerce with the procedures applied by this global financial organizations.

Martinez pointed out that the World Bank is strict when it comes to implementation of its rules, and so if there are any irregularities, the bank quickly puts the company on the black list and prescribes sanctions - the ban on participation in a certain period or permanently.

He explained that the case of corruption or fraud was easily detected, and that the punishments for that were very rigorous.

Namely, if the World Bank puts on the "black list" a certain company, it will be found on similar lists with other international financial organizations, according to mutual agreement of those institutions.

Martinez explained that the list had been published on the website of the World Bank.

The strictness of public procurements' procedures is very clear when a particular country and the bank agree on financing particular projects, the contract which is made must include a procurement plan, or everything which is funded.

- We do not finance anything that is not specified in the procurement plan - explained Martinez.

He also commented on whether the financing of construction works is the priority of domestic or foreign companies, pointing out that in our case, domestic firms do not have the priority because the condition for that is "per capita income below the poverty line determined by the United Nations Development Programme."

- I congratulate you because you are below that level - said Martinez.

Martinez, on the other hand said that when it came to acquisition of goods, national priority can be used, but that must be emphasized by the company in procurement documentation.

The only requirement is, as Martinez explained, that one third of the material used for producion has national origin.

- If all you are able to demonstrate all of that, you could take advantage of the national priorities - said Martinez.