Procurement of services through Government e Marketplace (GeM) would touch Rs 1.5 trillion in the current financial year as a greater number of state-run companies turn to the platform for insurance, IT and even transport and handling of minerals.
The share of services of total procurement on GeM is steadily increasing — from 13.4% or Rs 3069 crore in FY 20 to 32.8% or Rs 65917 crore in FY 23. Till October-end services procurement through GeM has already reached Rs 88831 crore while procurement of goods stands at Rs 1.1 trillion.
Top buyers of services included Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) like Coal India, NTPC Ltd and ONGC, and states (like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Nagaland) and central ministries such as coal, power, defence and finance, Chief Executive Officer of GeM P K Singh told reporters here.
The main service categories which are in demand include manpower outsourcing; vehicle hiring; mine development and operations; handling, transport and other mining services.
As many as 175 orders are placed by subsidiaries of Coal India, having order value Rs 24,558 crore for handling, transport and other mining activities.
About 10 types of insurance services are available on the platform such as group mediclaim, assets, liability, motor, livestock, crop and medical.
Singh said that insurance companies have registered on the portal, and it has removed the role of agents.
He also said that some unique services too are in demand such as leasing of high value medical equipment; market research/survey; hiring of chartered aircrafts; examination service and air international logistics service.
GeM has over 63,000 government buyer organisations and over 62 lakh sellers and service providers offering a wide range of products and services.