First Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum

Information

Date August 09, 2024

Introduction

In July 2024, the Permanent Secretariat will organise the XII Annual Meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Competition in Latin America and the Caribbean (WGTC), in collaboration with UNCTAD. This meeting has been held for more than a decade, under the auspices of SELA, and has become the only space in which the issue of trade and competition policy in the region is analysed and debated. On this occasion, in addition to the aforementioned meeting, the First Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum will be held in order to promote review and consideration sessions with practical cases shared with civil society and the private sector.

As main deliverables, it is expected to publish documents containing: i) competition policies; ii) insights on regional convergence; iii) a report on the topics addressed and the debates conducted during the event; and iv) recommendations arising from the debates held during the forum.

The Forum is structured around three main themes that have been consulted with leading experts in the field of competition, namely: disclosure, compensation for damages, and confidentiality and professional secrecy. These topics will be addressed by an expert, who will also present an academic paper that will then be commented on by other experts on the panel.

The Forum is expected to bring together professionals and experts to share their experiences and expertise in the practice of competition law and to make suggestions and contributions to improve competition law regulation and enforcement.

Objectives

Establish a space to share best practices and generate an exchange of experiences among experts and academics, as well as among competition authorities, that will contribute to the proper application of competition regulations for the good functioning of markets.
Generate a network of contacts related to competition policy that facilitates the application of transparent policies in the region that, in turn, stimulate intra-regional trade.
Expand spaces for discussion and consultation on the competition regime in the region.

Participants

The Forum is aimed at focal points in the area of competition in the Member States of SELA and international and regional organisations, as well as experts in the field and special guests.

Logistical aspects

Language: Spanish (with simultaneous interpretation into English)
Country: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Venue: Clarion Hotel Real Tegucigalpa

Agenda

Opening of the First Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum
Day 1: Academic Forum on Competition in Latin America and the Caribbean
09:00 – 09:30	Registration
09:30 – 10:00	Opening and welcome Competition agency of the host country – Honduras Ambassador Clarems Endara, Permanent Secretary, Latin American and Caribbean Economic System Juan Luis Crucelegui, Head of Capacity Building and Advisory Services, Competition and Consumer Policy Department, UNCTAD. Authorities of the host country – Honduras
10:00 – 11:30	Panel discussion I. Theme: confidentiality and professional secrecy One speaker on the selected topic. 20-minute presentation. Debate among experts on the topic in a conversational format. Participants will have access to the article presented by the expert in advance to do research on it and to enrich the debate with comments, observations and contributions. Comments by competition agencies present.
11:30 – 12:00	Question and answer session
12:00 – 13:30	LUNCH
13:30 – 15:00	Panel discussion II. Theme: compensation for damages. One speaker on the selected topic. 20-minute presentation. Debate among experts on the topic in a conversational format. Participants will have access to the article presented by the expert in advance to do research on it and to enrich the debate with comments, observations and contributions. Comments by competition agencies present.
15:00 – 15:30	Question and answer session (open to the public)
15:30 – 15:45	Coffee break
15:45 – 17:15	Panel discussion III. Theme: Disclosure programmes. One speaker on the selected topic. 20-minute presentation. Debate among experts on the topic in a conversational format. Participants will have access to the article presented by the expert in advance to do research on it and to enrich the debate with comments, observations and contributions. Comments by competition agencies present.
17:15 – 17:45	Question and answer session
17:45 – 18:00	Closing and conclusions