Transcript Lessons from competition research and advocacy initiatives in Africa and Asia

Competition Research and Advocacy Lessons from
Africa and Asia: CUTS Perspective
Pradeep S Mehta
Secretary General, CUTS International
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Presentation Outlook
• Findings from CUTS projects
• Recommendations
• Impact of the projects in countries
• Based on 7up (3 projects) and CDRF project
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About 7up Projects
• 19 countries to date
• From 2000 to 2008 and still ongoing
• 7 more countries under 7up4
• Research based advocacy and capacity building approach
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7up Project findings
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Policy induced competition barriers
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Absence of competition laws and policy
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Concentrated markets
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Interface problems
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Incoherent policies
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Anticompetitive practices in markets
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7up Project Findings (Cont..)
• Independence of competition authorities
• Stakeholders’ awareness
• Absence of consumer legislations and movements
• Poor funding for competition agencies
• Political economy issues
• Interest by researchers on competition issues
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Competition, Regulation and
Development Research Forum Project
• Research and deliberation on regulatory regime
implementation was main objective.
• Increase research capacity on competition and regulation in
DCs
• Supported by DFID, UK and IDRC, Canada
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CDRF Findings
• Lack of political will
• Opposition from main constituencies
• Capacity constraints for regulatory authorities
• Regulatory accountability missing
• Public interest considerations
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CDRF Findings (Cont..)
• Lack of competitive neutrality
• Unsynchronised regulations
• Lack of basic institutional infrastructure
• Commitment to growth as a political objective
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Recommendations made
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Need to speed up competition reforms
–
•
Competition law and policy matter in DCs
Nature of competition and regulation laws
– Hybrid laws and agencies appropriate for small economies
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Political will and competition culture
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Need for capacity building of civil society
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Govt, CSOs and business dialogue crucial for healthy
competition regime (advocacy)
•
Functional and independent regulators are necessary
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Projects impact in the regions
• Contributed significantly to process of new/amended law
eg Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Zambia, India, Lao PDR,
Sri Lanka.
• Enhanced understanding by CAs in competition issues
eg Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi
• Enhanced capacity of CSOs on competition research and
advocacy
eg Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique,
Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Vietnam
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Projects impact in the regions
• Highlighted the need for policy changes
– more effective consumer protection, amendments to
legislations and proper regulatory machinery
• Cooperation between regional competition authorities
enhanced
• Imparting extensive technical assistance and training to the
CAs staff
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THANK YOU
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