Here is an open letter from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Business Europe addressed to Karel de Gucht and Ed Fast urging a swift resolution to the CETA negotiations. http://tinyurl.com/92zsgdn

The first completed school procured using the SCAPE standardised design process has, it is claimed, delivered 30% savings against a standard D&B model. http://tinyurl.com/8q7x6ge

Today a free online service has been launched to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with information, advice and guidance on exporting overseas. http://tinyurl.com/9r7xdf6

Find out here, and get hold of the presentations: http://tinyurl.com/8h4x6ll

Another portal through which to observe the increasing pressure in favour of driving social policy through public procurement is the European Observatory on Fair Trade Public Procurement. The “Dutch Coffee effect” is building…. http://tinyurl.com/8ky35bt

Nicholas Keyes uses the WorldBank blog to promote the increasingly prevalent message that not only can public procurement be an effusive tool for social policy, but that it SHOULD b used a such. Energy efficiency is a perfect example, as Nicholas sets out here: http://tinyurl.com/9g6tf2w

We posted earlier this month (http://tinyurl.com/8nzm4yy) on Taiwan’s “2012 Trade with the EU” event. It took place on 24 October and was, judging by this account in Taiwan Today, a great success. Orders amounting to $98m were placed. http://tinyurl.com/95p3q63

The funds, which are presently suspended, will remain so until Romania overhauls its procurement laws to the Commission’s satisfaction. http://tinyurl.com/958gbyr

Chloe Smith MP has reiterated the Government’s commitment to SME engagement in procurement at the NFB 2012 conference. Her remarks came in the context of an NFB survey which revealed these, amongst other, worrying statistics. http://tinyurl.com/8wkfw7r

The North West Construction Hub, Manchester City Council and the Centre for Construction Innovation (CCI) have announced the launch of the Engineering & Professional Services (EPS) Framework. The Framework will, NWCH claims, enable public sector organisations, construction companies and built environment professionals to work in partnership to deliver projects more efficiently, on time and cost,…