NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Global competition regulators on Thursday convened in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to seek ways to promote consumer welfare.
The two-day International Competition Network (ICN) Advocacy Workshop 2024 brought together industry regulators from more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa to explore ways to enhance competition in markets to strengthen consumer rights.
In his opening remarks, Adano Roba, acting director-general of the Competition Authority of Kenya, said the conference is an opportunity for competition regulators to engage in constructive dialogue, share best practices, and develop strategies that will not only respond to but also shape the future of consumer welfare around the world.
"Competition among enterprises promotes consumer welfare by expanding the choice of goods and services available in the market," Roba said, calling for a common approach among competition regulators around the world toward the enforcement of consumer rights.
Rusman bin Abu Samah, commissioner of the Malaysia Competition Commission, said competition law and policy play a critical role in ensuring that consumers are not exploited by commercial enterprises. He added that competition regulators must enhance their capacity to investigate consumer complaints about unsafe products sold in the market.
Lilian Kajuju Mukoronia, registrar of the East African Community Competition Authority, said the competition regime in East Africa is making progress as Uganda has enacted a competition law while Rwanda has started implementing its legislation to enhance consumer welfare.
Mukoronia noted that regional competition agencies have also expanded the scope of their mandate to regulate conduct that has a cross-border dimension for the benefit of the public.
Willard Mwemba, director and chief executive officer of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission, said regional competition regulators have entered into partnerships with national competition agencies to eliminate anticompetitive conduct by dominant businesses.
He added that consumers are likely to enjoy the full benefits of market competition when competition watchdogs enforce laws that encourage companies to innovate and provide high-quality products and services.
