In the first five months of 2023, Moscow saw a notable surge in public procurement activity through the supplier portal. More than 28,000 contracts were signed with individuals and individual entrepreneurs, marking a 10 percent rise from the same period in the prior year. This trend was reported by RIA Novosti citing Vladimir Yefimov, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations. The data highlight a growing role for small and medium sized enterprises in city led purchasing programs and demonstrate how digital platforms are expanding access to state contracts across the country.
The supplier portal serves as a nationwide gateway that enables entrepreneurs from all regions to participate in small volume purchases conducted by Moscow customers. From January through May of 2023, the aggregate value of transactions conducted on the portal exceeded four billion rubles, a figure that underscores the platform’s impact on local commerce and the broader supply chain. Analysts note that this level of activity reflects both the demand from the capital for small scale procurement and the readiness of suppliers to engage with metropolitan buyers in a transparent, efficient manner.
Public procurement activity among Moscow residents and their enterprises stood out as the most vigorous among all participants. The capital city signed 14.3 thousand state contracts with individuals and individual entrepreneurs within the period in question. Following them, entities from the Moscow region accounted for more than 7.4 thousand contracts, indicating a strong cross regional participation in the citys procurement ecosystem. Regions such as Tambov also demonstrated notable involvement, signaling a widespread willingness to leverage the supplier portal for public purchases.
Launched by the Moscow government in 2013, the supplier portal remains one of the largest online marketplaces for spending on goods and services by individuals, legal entities, and small business operators with contract values up to 600 thousand rubles. The platform has evolved into a trusted channel for small scale procurement, supported by a large and diverse registry of suppliers. Current records show around 285 thousand registered suppliers from various regions across Russia, with the vast majority, more than 90 percent, representing small and medium sized enterprises. In the preceding year, the platform posted a rise in purchasing volume, with 2022 purchases increasing by roughly 11.5 percent, a signal of ongoing expansion and adoption in municipal commerce. This growth pattern demonstrates how digital procurement portals can accelerate access to state contracts while fostering SME participation across the national landscape, a development that policymakers in Russia have actively encouraged to promote competition and transparency in public spending. [RIA Novosti]