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June 29, 2006, Bangkok, Press Release

Delegates from Asian countries met here to discuss the status of adoption and implementation of fair trade rules. The conference inaugurated on 27th June by Siripol Yodmuangchareon, Director General of the Department of Internal Trade of Thailand ended on 28th June.

It came out that in most Asian countries, there is no comprehensive legislation to promote fair competition; and, where the law does exist implementation is not taken seriously. This makes the business environment less conducive to small and new enterprises and big companies often with political nexus rip off the consumers.
Speaking at the conference, Philippe Brusick Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva said that promotion of fair trade rules is essential for promoting growth with equity. Douglas Brooks of the Asian Development Bank Institute, Tokyo emphasised the fact that in a globalised environment, the absence of competition rules can be damaging local business as well as consumers. Marc Proksch of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) spoke of the need for Asian economies to promote competition at the domestic level in order to be globally competitive.

Referring to the general opposition of the business community to the adoption and implementation of competition law, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International pointed out that even business has an important stake in creating a competitive environment, as about 50% of goods and services produced in a country are used by business themselves. It has been found that intermediate goods sectors and services sectors are more prone to abusive business practices, which are adversely affect the business community.

The meeting, organised by CUTS International , an India-based international research and advocacy group, was also the Final Review Conference of an international project entitled, ‘Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia’ (7Up2 Project) (www.cuts-international.org/7up2.htm). The Project, implemented by CUTS and supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID), UK, is a multi-stakeholder initiative endeavouring to accelerate the process towards a functional competition policy and law for select countries in Southeast Asia and in South Asia, and advance the enabling environment for such law and policy to be better enforced. Under the project, detailed research was carried out in the select countries along side organising training programmes for the competition authority officials and representatives of other stakeholder groups.

The findings of the project, though based on select six countries of the region, do provide good and practical lessons for other countries as well. Apart from the project partners representing leading civil society organisations, research institutions and consumer associations from the six project countries, the meeting also drew renowned experts on competition, representatives of inter-governmental organisations, and representatives of competition authorities.

The conference is to be followed by a three-day training programme on competition policy and law organised by the CUTS Institute for Regulation and Competition (CIRC), an initiative of CUTS International mandated to build capacity on competition and regulatory issues, from 29th June to 1st July at the Bangkok Ambassador Hotel. The training sessions will be attended by the members of the Asian chapter of the International Network of Civil Society Organisations on Competition (INCSOC), members of the Board of Trade of Thailand (BOT), and the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT).

For further details please contact:
Udai Mehta (Thai Mob: 065745871)
or
Alice Pham, Mob: +91 98292 85959,
Room 2601, Hotel Landmark Bangkok,
Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand.

June 27, 2006, Bangkok, Press Release

Delegates from Asian countries are meeting here to discuss the competition policy and law issues in the region. The conference inaugurated by Siripol Yodmuangchareon, Director General of the Department of Internal Trade of Thailand will end on 28th June. Organised by CUTS International , an India-based international research and advocacy group, the meeting is also the Final Review Conference of an international project entitled, ‘Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia’ (7Up2 Project) (www.cuts-international.org/7up2.htm).

The Project, implemented by CUTS and supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID), UK, is a multi-stakeholder initiative endeavouring to accelerate the process towards a functional competition policy and law for select countries in Southeast Asia and in South Asia, and advance the enabling environment for such law and policy to be better enforced. Under the project, detailed research was carried out in the select countries along side organising training programmes for the competition authority officials and representatives of other stakeholder groups.

The findings of the project, though based on select six countries of the region, do provide good lessons for other countries as well. Hence, meeting is being attended by delegates from entire Asia and beyond. Apart from the project partners representing leading civil society organisations, research institutions and consumer associations from the six project countries, the meeting is also drawing renowned experts on competition, representatives of inter-governmental organisations, and representatives of competition authorities.

Among others, Philippe Brusick, Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva; Marc Proksch of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP); Douglas Brooks of the Asian Development Bank, and Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International are speaking at the meet.

The conference would be followed by a three-day training programme on competition policy and law during 29th June to 1st July organised in the Bangkok Ambassador Hotel, by the CUTS Institute for Regulation and Competition (CIRC), an inititiave of CUTS International mandated to build capacity on competition and regulatory issues. The training will be attended by the members of the Asian chapter of the International Network of Civil Society Organisations on Competition (INCSOC), members of the Board of Trade of Thailand (BOT), and the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT).

For further details please contact:
Udai Mehta (Thai Mob: 065745871)
or
Alice Pham, Mob: +91 98292 85959,
Room 2601, Hotel Landmark Bangkok,
Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand.

Training Seminar on Commercial Diplomacy

June 26, 2006, New Delhi, Press Release

With a view to provide a comprehensive perspective of the principles of Commercial Diplomacy and its effect on trade and investment flows, CUTS Institute for Regulation and Competition (CIRC) is pioneering a Training Workshop on Diplomacy in International Trade from June 28, 2006 to July 1, 2006 at New Delhi.

The Training Workshop is being organised jointly with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and Institute for Trade and Commercial Diplomacy, USA and supported by Department of Commerce, Government of India. The Seminar is targeted at officials in government departments dealing with international trade directly or indirectly, officials in foreign missions, corporate strategists and negotiators.

The key resource person, Mr Geza Feketekuty is a former US Trade negotiator and has served with the office of the US Trade Representative for 21 years in various senior trade policy leadership positions. He has played a central role in the conceptualization and development of US trade policy and global trade negotiations.

According to Pradeep Mehta, Director General, CIRC, training in commercial diplomacy is virtually absent in the country. In the past commercial diplomacy concerned itself largely with negotiations over tariffs and quotas on imports. However, in today’s more interdependent world, trade negotiations cover a much wider range affecting international commerce. Commercial diplomacy encompasses the whole analysis, advocacy and negotiating chain that leads to international agreements on trade-related issues.

The first step in commercial diplomacy therefore is to undertake an in depth analysis of all the factors that can have a bearing on decision-making process at home and abroad.

The other resource persons for the training program comprise eminent experts, practitioners and academicians in the field of commercial diplomacy and related matters, both from India and abroad. The 4 day program would aim to bring forward an analytical framework for effective commercial diplomacy through real case studies and simulations on trade negotiations.

For more information, please contact
Ms. Mani Lamba, Mob: 9910445526
Mr. Vijay Singh, Mob: 9818250102

June 24, 2006, New Delhi, Press Release

To give a shape to the policies and programme of work for consumer protection under the Eleventh Five Year Plan, the Planning Commission has appointed Pradeep Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, a member of the newly formed Working Group on Consumer Protection.

According to the communication received from the Planning Commission, the Working Group, headed by the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs will recommend comprehensive set of policies, programme and action plan to launch a strong paradigm for consumer protection covering inter alia consumer rights to awareness, education and redressal of grievances and quality infrastructure and standardization.

The Working Group will also make an assessment of the resource requirements and manner of financing including PPP models in the Eleventh Plan and will suggest ways and means to enhance responsiveness of private sector to the consumers.

Pradeep Mehta has also been appointed a member of the Working Group on Competition Policy formed by the Planning Commission to recommend a set of comprehensive policy instruments and strategic interventions to effectively generate a culture of competition to enhance competition in the domestic market with the involvement of all stakeholders.

“The effort of the government to involve various stakeholders in the formulation of policies for the Eleventh Five Year Plan is indeed laudable and will help in bringing to the table implementable programmes of work. It will also provide an opportunity to iron out glitches which any stakeholder is likely to face while executing the programme. Above all involvement of civil society organizations like CUTS International in such discussions ensures that the interest of consumer is taken into consideration while formulating the policies,” Pradeep Mehta said.

For more information, please contact
Ms. Mani Lamba, Mob: 9910445526
Mr. Vijay Singh, Mob: 9818250102