Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ASEAN competition agencies meet in Philippines

ASEAN competition agencies meet in Philippines

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
CCF delegation joins the 4th ASEAN Heads of Competition Agencies meeting in the Philippines on March 13. CCF

ASEAN competition agencies meet in Philippines

The ASEAN heads of competition agencies convened their 4th meeting in Palawan, the Philippines, to discuss guidelines and information system for sharing cases of business mergers and acquisitions in member countries.

The Cambodian delegation was led by Phan Oun, head of the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF).

The March 13-17 meeting will lay the groundwork for a post-2025 competition action plan (CAP), which identifies activities for the next 20 years.

“The conference is an opportunity for the heads of ASEAN competition agencies to meet and discuss the outcome of the 1st meeting on ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition [AFAC], the key deliverables of the 2025 ASEAN Competition Action Plan [ACAP] and the post-2025 CAP,” said a CCF statement.

Oun said the AFAC is being negotiated at the technical level by the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC), which is slated to conclude and submit it to the ASEAN Heads of Competition Agencies meeting in the second quarter of 2024.

“We laid out many items that we intend to discuss in the future. The agreement will serve as a formal cooperation mechanism to facilitate cross-border cooperation and coordination on policy issues and law on competition among ASEAN member states,” he told The Post on March 14.

Oun said Cambodian officials also met with several dialogue partners to receive technical assistance from countries such as Australia and Germany.

In November 2019, Cambodia hosted the 8th ASEAN Competition Conference, although it had not yet drafted a competition law at the time.

The Law on Competition was passed and promulgated in October 2021.

Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak explained at the time that the law would contribute to fair competition, the creation of new businesses and protect consumers’ interests.

“It is especially suited to a fast-changing business environment, in terms of e-commerce, and other evolving technology,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom