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Effective
implementation of competition law and regulatory policies
are pre-requisites for evolving a level playing field for
private sector growth and ensuring public welfare in the
present liberal economic order of the developing world,
observed Garth le Pere of Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD)
while opening a training workshop on competition policy and
law implementation, organised jointly by CUTS International,
India and IGD, South Africa in Pretoria last week.
The workshop
organised under the auspices of a two-year project entitled,
“Capacity Building on Competition Policy in Select Countries
of Eastern and Southern Africa” (also referred to as the
7Up3 project), supported by the Department for International
Development (DFID), UK and Norwegian Agency for Development
Cooperation (NORAD), Norway was targeted at developing the
understanding and skills of officials from young competition
authorities and line Ministries of countries from Africa.
Over 30
participants from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, South Africa, Swaziland and
Zambia participated in this day training workshop held
during 15th to 17th February 2007.
The training
dealt with both the basic and advanced themes on competition
policy and law implementation. Specific areas for training
included introduction to competition law, competition
analysis, vertical and horizontal restraints, mergers and
acquisition, abuse of dominance and regional competition
issues.
Case
Studies and role-play were extensive used during this
training. As part of the practical training, an exposure and
study visit was also conducted in the South African
Competition Commission (SACC). The trainees were briefed
about the activities of the SACC by its CEO, Shan Rumburuth
and other officials.
Resource persons
included academicians and practitioners from within the
region and outside, who shared their experience and
expertise with the participants. Participants strongly felt
that continuous capacity development through such trainings
was imperative for effective implementation of competition
regimes in sub-Saharan Africa.
CUTS is planning
to organise need-based and issue-specific national training
workshops on competition policy and law implementation for
multiple stakeholders in the coming months in various
countries of eastern and southern Africa, as part of its
mission to strengthen constituencies on competition policy
and law in the region.
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