East Africa Entrepreneurs Association Unlocking Opportunities in the Global Value Chain
COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) held a training workshop for Ugandan officials, including 110 District Commercial Officers and Private Sector Umbrella Organizations in sensitizing them on competition-law issues. The training spotted antitrust offences, and catalyzing the enactment of robust competition legislation in the East Africa
The objective of the training was to provide participants with skills to implement competition law and policy, and carry out reforms, where necessary, in this field.
AREAS COVERED
The training covered the following areas
- Objectives and benefits of competition law
- Description of restrictive business practices such as agreements and concerted action between firms to limit competition, abuse of market power and mergers and acquisitions likely to lessen competition
- Evaluation of mergers and acquisitions: authorizations, notifications and exemptions
- The relationship between competition policy and the protection of intellectual property rights
- The impact of competition policy on the small business sector
- The institutional framework for the administration and enforcement of competition law: the structure of competition authorities and the respective roles of the Government and the judicial system
- Sanctions and remedies for anti-competitive practices
- Regulation of public utility sectors and the role of competition policy
Mr. George Lipimile, CEO, COMESA Competition Commission
Dr. Lipimile noted that “between poverty and development lies competition” to enhance consumer welfare.
He took the audience through a brief history of antitrust laws globally, and encouraged journalists to explain the practical benefits of “creating competitive markets” for the population of the COMESA region at large.
The two days workshop was closed by Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Corpoeratives
