Fiji, May 6 -- A new procurement approach introduced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is increasing competition, widening bidder participation, and improving the quality of infrastructure projects across the Pacific, according to the bank.

ADB Director General for the Pacific Department, Emma Veve said the "Merit Point Criteria" procurement system-piloted in the Pacific since 2021-is shifting project selection away from a sole focus on lowest-cost bids towards broader quality-based assessments.

"Traditionally, choosing the lowest price bid doesn't necessarily give you the best outcome," Veve told PACNEWS.

She said the Pacific has been used as a testing ground for the reform, with around 75 percent of internationally advertised contr...