Fiji, May 6 -- The United States, one of the donors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised the issue of procurement as a critical issue for the bank to address.

U.S Governor representative to the ADB, Alexia Latortue said her government has played a pivotal role in driving ADB's procurement reforms since 2017.

This was the first step in shifting from a rigid, exclusive focus on lowest cost to recognising quality and value-for-money as core principles.

Latortue urged the ADB to redouble its efforts to strengthen implementation of the procurement reforms - including providing additional support for capacity building in recipient countries.

For vulnerable members, those in fragile and conflict situations and small island developi...