The 2010 Guangzhou Government Social Service Procurement Fair, the first one of its kind, opened on September 5. According to government officials, 20 pilot sub-district integrated community service centers will be officially launched in September and be opened to the public by the end of October.
The fair provides a platform for the communication between government agencies as the buyers and privately run social service institutions as the suppliers. A total of 31 social service institutions, including the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong and Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen University Social Service Center, participated in the fair. The government is intended to procure services for the young, the elderly, the disabled, and community development.
Government officials indicate that guidelines will issued for the operations of integrated community service centers. The government may procure services and engage social service institutions to distribute those services to people in need; alternatively, the government will retain the existing community service centers and bring in professional service providers to enhance their standard of service.
Source: english.gz.gov.cn
