1 Udai Mehta CUTS International ICN Rio 2012 Annual Conference 18 April 2012 Explaining the Benefits of Competition to the General Public: Means

2 Presentation Outline  Why is it important to explain?  Tools to Communicate  Challenges  Initiative taken by CUTS  World Competition Day  Concluding remarks…..

3 Why is it important to explain?  Sustainability of a Competition Regime Survival of a Competition regime depends on support from the ‘Common Man’ Communicating the benefits is important to garner more political/policy support for competition reforms in DCs  Competition brings more change Important to communicate, otherwise stakeholders are left with fear of competition  Public Support Reactions to reforms/decisions are not always positive Need to communicate to build trust and ensure support Get ‘first-hand’ evidence/leads about market malpractices and their impacts

Institutional Website ―CCSA (South Africa), GCC (Gambia), CCPC (Zambia), ACCC (Australia), CCM (Mauritius), (CCI) India, (ECA) Egypt, DG Comp, CAK (Kenya), PCA (Portugal) etc. Press Releases/Press Conference and Radio/TV Programmes ―ACCC, CCPC, ECA, DG Comp, Portugal Competition Authority Social Networking Sites (Facebook, twitter etc. ) ―Competition Authority of Botswana, Mauritius, Zambia, Singapore, Bolivia etc. Annual Reports, Flyers/Brochures etc. ―OFT (UK), CCSA (South Africa), CCI (India), CCP (Pakistan), DCCA (Denmark) etc. Conferences/Seminars/Capacity building activities ―Many authorities organises the events standalone or with the support of CSOs, academic institutions, (e.g. CCI, CCPC, ECA, DG Comp etc. and many more) National Competition Day ―European Union Members States, Zambia, Brazil, Mexico etc. 4 Tools to Communicate

5 Challenges  Language Barrier: translate materials in local language  Geographical location (reach) of the Competition Agency  Limited Resources (human, financial, infrastructural)  Legal/institutional weaknesses  Limited powers/lack of functional independence  Political economy constraints (strong ‘sphere of influence’) Support Civil Society Organisations to engage with Public

6 Initiative taken by CUTS ‘Raising awareness at Grassroots on Benefits of a Competition Regime in Zambia’ I. Purpose of the Initiative Sensitise intended beneficiaries about the new competition law in Zambia Inform the beneficiaries about their rights/responsibilities in their day to day business activities Active engagement of Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) II. Activities Capacity building workshops Sensitise participants and build their capacity to understand benefits of competition Drama performances were organised to simplify complex information on competition and consumer protection (UTPs: tied selling, misleading advertisements, etc)

7 Initiative taken by CUTS Drama sensitisation in Schools Young children have spending power: interact with markets and influence parental spending too Importance of early consumer education regarding market distortions Focused group discussions, dissemination of publications, etc School TV Quiz Ten schools were identified and were provided with guiding framework from where questions were selected focused on competition issues Demand was created to take the quiz show outside Lusaka Inspired other regulators such as Zambia Information and Communication Technology (ZICTA) and Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to organise similar TV Quiz show on specific issues

World Competition Day 8  UN General Assembly adopted the UN Set on Competition Policy on 5 th December 1980  Occasion to propagate the benefits of competitive markets and harmful effects of anticompetitive behaviour to public  Competition Agencies: Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, OFT (UK), Fiji, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, etc  2 nd Call for WCD for 05 th, December, 2011: “Cartels and its harmful effects on Consumers”, was widely celebrated across the Globe Please, visit us on Facebook Page:

9 Concluding remarks  Competition issues is relevant for all consumers, including the ‘Common man’ on the street  Need for a stakeholder engagement strategy to be developed by Competition Agencies  Important that all stakeholders (Competition/Regulatory Agency, Media, CSOs, etc) play their role effectively and responsibly  Taking competition reforms agenda outside the competition agency/community Need to adopt ‘World Competition Day’

THANK YOU 10