Emerging Dimensions of Competition Policy and Law work in Eastern and Southern Africa Rijit Sengupta CUTS International

Emerging Challenges Institutional Issues (Young, inexperienced competition agencies) Functional inadequacies -Competition Law (but little implementation) -Administration of Competition Laws (inappropriate sequencing) -Capacity Constraints in young competition authorities Low level of awareness of competition policy and law at various levels (government, academia, civil society, business community)

Positive Developments Civil Society – pioneering competition research and advocacy in (project) countries Realisation among national governments Felt-Need for Capacity Development and Skills Training in line Ministries/Competition Agencies Developments in Regional Authorities (COMESA, EAC, SADC) Above conditions are favourable for promoting competition culture in Eastern and Southern Africa

Trends for the Future Areas/Topic for future RESEARCH initiatives ADVOCACY Points to be taken forward Need for knowledge sharing and learning through NETWORKING

Issues for Future Research Competition Policy and Pro-poor Growth Sectoral Studies on Competition (eg. Agriculture, Informal Sector) Impact of Privatisation on Competition in the market Analyse the linkages between Competition and Consumer Protection (in terms of need for having hybrid laws and agencies to administer these legislations) Competition Law as a means to regulate TNCs behaviour

Advocacy Points Need for Hybrid Laws/Agencies? Needs Assessment for Skills Training on Competition Law administration Competition Tool-kit: as a guiding framework for competition administration Developing communication channels with the wider public through the engagement of experienced CSOs Competition Policy first then Competition Law (sequencing the process of evolving competition regimes) Identifying anti-competitive practices at the micro level (Consumer Organisations – as watchdogs) Establishing a dialogue between Government - Cosnumer Organisations/CSO – Business Community

Networking Developing a network of interested individuals and institutions on Competition Policy and Law INCSOC – a unique global network Proposal – Launch a “Pan-African Network to Promote Competition” ‘INCSOC- Africa’ to be transformed into PANPROC All partners of the 7Up3 project and all others present in this conference interested - to be members of PANPROC

PANPROC Steering Committee Working Agenda (3 years or 5 years) Activities (Research and Advocacy) Linkages with other initiatives and networks in Africa working on socio- economic development (popularise and promote competition awareness and the need for a healthy competition culture)