SOFIA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian government on Tuesday announced the launch of a web-based tool to improve public procurement transparency.
The Integrated Civil Monitoring and Analysis System (SIGMA), which is free, was launched just over a month after the government led by former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev took office. SIGMA is part of the new government's efforts to combat corruption.
Developed using artificial intelligence, SIGMA provides access to data on 193,166 contracts worth a total of 51.6 billion euros (59.89 billion U.S. dollars), awarded by 4,441 institutions to 17,455 contractors for the period 2020-2026. The data will be updated daily.
During the presentation of the system, Radev said it marked the beginning of true transparency in public finances. Without this transparency, he said, there can be no good governance or fight against corruption.
The system clearly shows where the government's money is going, Radev said, and will be extremely useful not only for ministries, but also for municipalities, companies, society, the media, and control bodies. ■
