2014 Competition Advocacy Contest: Winners and Honorable Mentions

• Malawi (Winner)

  Theme 1: Promoting procompetitive reforms that foster growth and reduce inequality

  The Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to deal with the monopolistic conditions in the sugar industry, which is a key sector for growth in the country. This initiative achieved significant results including increased availability of sugar across the country and new entrants in the distribution market. Submitted by Lewis Kulisewa, Competition and Fair Trading Commission of Malawi.

• Kenya (Winner)

  Theme 1: Promoting procompetitive reforms that foster growth and reduce inequality

  The cost of healthcare is a heavy burden for the poorest in Kenya. The Kenyan Competition Authority engaged with private healthcare providers to prevent the enactment of a 20-percent price increase in healthcare services that was previously announced by the trade association. This initiative had a tremendous impact on public welfare, potentially saving consumers more than $100 million in medical bills over a 3-year period. Submitted by Lilian Mukoronia, Competition Authority of Kenya.

• El Salvador (Winner)

  Theme 2: Promoting awareness of benefits of competition in a time of crisis

  Through an innovative and cost efficient app, the competition authority of El Salvador enhanced transparency and citizen participation in competition issues. The app not only grants easy access to public information pertaining the cases sanctioned by the authority but also offers an interface for providing comments and sharing related information. Submitted by Karla Chinchilla López, Superintendencia de Competencia.

• New Zealand (Winner)

  Theme 2: Promoting awareness of benefits of competition in a time of crisis

  After an earthquake that hit Christchurch, the Competition Authority of New Zealand responded with a high degree of readiness and concern for the wellbeing of affected citizens who would become future buyers in the construction sector. The authority developed a “one-stop shop” website to provide guidance on competition and consumer law to the suppliers of goods and services in this sector. Submitted by Nicky Beechey, New Zealand Commerce Commission.

• Moldova (Winner)

  Theme 3: Promoting cooperation with relevant public bodies to balance competition goals with other public interests

  The competition authority created an innovative online portal on state aid in Moldova to enhance transparency in the allocation of public resources and reduce selective support to specific firms. Fed by inputs from around 150 public bodies, this registry has become a key tool for monitoring the impact of state aid on the competition environment. Submitted by Luminita Arama, Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova.

• Singapore (Winner)

  Theme 3: Promoting cooperation with relevant public bodies to balance competition goals with other public interests

  The Competition Commission of Singapore successfully tackled the competition issues raised by third-party taxi booking apps through a strong cooperation with the Land Transport Authority. The commission showed that the entry of innovative technology like third-party apps can benefit commuters and the taxi industry as a whole. Submitted by Lim Wei Lu, Competition Commission of Singapore.

• Finland (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 1: Promoting procompetitive reforms that foster growth and reduce inequality

  In collaboration with academia, the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority analyzed how restrictions on licensing and supervision may have a significant anticompetitive impact on key markets. Based on the recommendations from the analysis, various public bodies are implementing a number of steps to level the playing field. Submitted by Seppo Reimavuo, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

• Indonesia (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 1: Promoting procompetitive reforms that foster growth and reduce inequality

  The story submitted by the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition of Indonesia illustrates the strategic role that competition authorities can play in the deregulation of key sectors for economic growth, such as air transportation. As a result of this process the airline industry has enhanced its performance both in price and quality. Submitted by Way retno dwi sari, Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition.

• Russia (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 1: Promoting procompetitive reforms that foster growth and reduce inequality

  The Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation engaged with several public bodies to ensure nondiscriminatory access conditions for the purchase of potassium chloride, a key input for fertilizers. This initiative fits within Russia’s commitment for accession to the WTO. Submitted by Anna Pozdnyakov, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation.

• Greece (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 2: Promoting awareness of benefits of competition in a time of crisis

  The Hellenic Competition Commission, in collaboration with the OECD, undertook a competition impact assessment of regulations potentially restricting competition in four key sectors for the Greek economy: retail, food processing, construction materials, and tourism. This exercise led to the revision of more than 1,000 pieces of legislation and more than 320 recommendations on legal provisions that should be amended or repealed. Submitted by Dimitris Loukas, Hellenic Competition Commission.

• Iceland (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 2: Promoting awareness of benefits of competition in a time of crisis

  Faced with a new reality after the collapse of the country’s financial infrastructure, the Icelandic Competition Authority advocated for the use of efficient competition policy to speed up economic recovery. The impact of the tools issued by the authority is estimated to be around $740 million, or 0.6% of Iceland’s annual GDP. Submitted by Páll Gunnar Pálsson, Icelandic Competition Authority.

• Portugal (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 2: Promoting awareness of benefits of competition in a time of crisis

  In October 2014, the Portuguese Competition Authority launched “Fair Play: With competition, everybody wins,” a campaign to promote awareness of the benefits of competition, including its role in overcoming the country’s economic crisis, and the importance of compliance to the business community. With the endorsement of the prime minister and the European Commissioner for Competition, the campaign was held in eight cities in partnership with ten business associations. Submitted by Cristina Camacho, Portuguese Competition Authority.

• Israel (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 3: Promoting cooperation with relevant public bodies to balance competition goals with other public interests

  Through an interinstitutional cooperation, the Israel Antitrust Authority promoted the use of debit cards as a tool to benefit merchants, especially small businesses. A more prevalent use of debit cards in Israel is expected to bring down the use of cash and contribute to the effort to reduce the size and scope of the shadow economy. Submitted by Noa Zvi-Oliver, Israel Antitrust Authority.

• Mexico (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 3: Promoting cooperation with relevant public bodies to balance competition goals with other public interests

  Mexico lacked an effective federal mechanism to analyze the competitive impact of proposed regulations, which presented clear barriers to competition. Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission, in collaboration with the Federal Commission for Regulatory Improvement, implemented a framework for regulatory impact analysis that includes a substantial competition analysis. Submitted by Carolina Garayzar, Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission.

• South Africa (Honorable Mention)

  Theme 3: Promoting cooperation with relevant public bodies to balance competition goals with other public interests

  The Competition Commission of South Africa conducted a market inquiry on the country’s banking sector between 2006 and 2008 that led to 28 recommendations towards improving competition in the sector. Most of the consumer protection recommendations were implemented by banks and were embedded into the Code of Banking Practice. Submitted by Donnavan-John Linley, the Competition Commission of South Africa.