CCA Shares Highlights of its Operations on World Competition Day 2023

The Competition and Consumer Authority today, 5^th December, joins other competition agencies and like-minded organisations in commemorating World Competition Day.

The Authority will commemorate the day by hosting a press conference at the Competition Authority offices in Gaborone from 10am. During the press conference, the Authority will share the economic and public interest impact of some of its merger assessments including in the tourism sector. The Authority will also share highlights on business operations contained in the 2022/23 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements.

The Authority will further commemorate World Competition Day through an exhibition at Galo Mall in Francistown during which it will sensitise members of the public and the business community on competition issues. The public is invited to visit the CCA stall to learn more on how fair and competitive markets are beneficial to the economy.

On 5^th December1980, the United Nations Conference approved a Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices (the UN Set), thus marking a milestone in the history of Competition Law and Policy.  Since 2010, competition agencies and civil society organisations have observed 5^th December as World Competition Day, and advocated for the official adoption of this day as World Competition Day.

The global theme for this year’s commemoration is “Prioritising Socially Sensitive Sectors.” The theme speaks to the convergence of several crises like the Corona virus pandemic, armed conflicts, climate change adversely affecting society in general, especially the poorer   members. They have been affected by broken supply chains, rising inflation, job losses, lack of income opportunities, shortages of food and medicines, faltering infrastructure are some of the social pain points that can be attributed to such crises.

The theme therefore calls upon policy makers and regulators to prioritise socially sensitive sectors and issues, such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare, food and agriculture, information and communication, education, jobs etc.