Don’t Abandon E-bidding Over Hacking
Summary
Nepal’s e-bidding system should be secured and restored rather than abandoned after reports that the procurement platform was hacked. The editorial argues that returning to paper-based tenders would revive old corruption risks and weaken transparency.
Key Points
- Reports that Nepal’s electronic procurement system was hacked have prompted concerns and an investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police.
- The piece argues that scrapping e-bidding in favor of paper-based sealed tenders would revive old problems such as collusion, intimidation and manipulation.
- Instead of reversing digital procurement, the government should strengthen cybersecurity through better encryption, authentication, audits and monitoring.
- If paper bidding is used temporarily, the government should set a clear deadline and roadmap for restoring a secure e-bidding system.
