UNCTAD's COMPAL Programme hosts its Annual Conference 2017
30 de marzo de 2017
Fuente:
http://unctad.org/
30 - 31 March 2017, Central Hotel, Panama City, Panama.
Key Issues:
UNCTAD's COMPAL Programme has been strengthening institutions and capacities in the areas of competition and consumer protection policies in Latin America since 2003. The third phase of the programme began on 2015 with a focus on regional cooperation and integration. Its members are competition and consumer protection authorities of: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. In 2016, the programme has implemented 78% of planned activities for 2016 and 70% of its budget. The Annual Conference, bringing together its sixteen members, the donor Switzerland and interested observers.
The Conference will review the outcome and impact of the programme’s activities implemented in 2016-2017 and will decide on the activities for 2017-2018. In the past year, the activities that have had the greatest impact have been:
Workshop on Competition and Consumer Protection on Regulated Sectors, Antigua, Guatemala,
30-31 May 2016
UNCTAD gathered high ranking officials of member agencies and those of advanced agencies in each field (namely, El Salvador, France, Panama, Peru, the United States and Switzerland) to discuss the competition and consumer protection issues in the regulated sectors of medicines, telecommunications and energy. This event was co-organized by the Ministry of Economy (MINECO), the Consumer Protection Agency (DIACO) of Guatemala and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID). The conclusions of the workshops were shared in plenary sessions. The workshops was followed by two roundtables to discuss the competition and consumer protection issues of best institutional design for regulated sectors and the impact of regional regulated sectors for competition and consumer protection. 95% of participating agencies believed discussions contributed to building bonds with other agencies, while 82% believed the contents were "very relevant" to their institutions. Costa Rica reports increasing collaboration with the regulated sectors after the workshop, while Panama has launched a new price-monitoring system integrating the lessons learned. Guatemala organized a side-event to advocate for the enactment of its competition law benefiting from the participation of 7 heads of competition agencies in the workshop.
UNCTAD gathered high ranking officials of member agencies and those of advanced agencies in each field (namely, El Salvador, France, Panama, Peru, the United States and Switzerland) to discuss the competition and consumer protection issues in the regulated sectors of medicines, telecommunications and energy. This event was co-organized by the Ministry of Economy (MINECO), the Consumer Protection Agency (DIACO) of Guatemala and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID). The conclusions of the workshops were shared in plenary sessions. The workshops was followed by two roundtables to discuss the competition and consumer protection issues of best institutional design for regulated sectors and the impact of regional regulated sectors for competition and consumer protection. 95% of participating agencies believed discussions contributed to building bonds with other agencies, while 82% believed the contents were "very relevant" to their institutions. Costa Rica reports increasing collaboration with the regulated sectors after the workshop, while Panama has launched a new price-monitoring system integrating the lessons learned. Guatemala organized a side-event to advocate for the enactment of its competition law benefiting from the participation of 7 heads of competition agencies in the workshop.
INDECOPI-COMPAL School on Consumer Protection, Lima, Peru 15 to 19 June 2016
UCTAD organized a high-level intensive course on the protection of financial consumers for operative staff of consumer protection agencies in cooperation with the Peruvian INDECOPI School. A total of 30 officials in charge of financial services in their respective agencies were trained in this one-week face-to-face course which was delivered by Dr. Carmen Ligia Valderrama (academic and UNCTAD consultant), Mr. Julià Guimerà (Agència Catalana del Consum-Spain) and Mr Michael Panzera (FTC-Unites States). The course also included a training of trainers so participating officials would better replicate it in their home agencies. National replications were completed in August 2016, yielding a total of 460 people trained in this matter. Participants increased their competencies in financial services by 50% in average.
UCTAD organized a high-level intensive course on the protection of financial consumers for operative staff of consumer protection agencies in cooperation with the Peruvian INDECOPI School. A total of 30 officials in charge of financial services in their respective agencies were trained in this one-week face-to-face course which was delivered by Dr. Carmen Ligia Valderrama (academic and UNCTAD consultant), Mr. Julià Guimerà (Agència Catalana del Consum-Spain) and Mr Michael Panzera (FTC-Unites States). The course also included a training of trainers so participating officials would better replicate it in their home agencies. National replications were completed in August 2016, yielding a total of 460 people trained in this matter. Participants increased their competencies in financial services by 50% in average.
VI International Consumer Protection Forum, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 13-14 September 2016
As expressed in an internal evaluation, this has been highest valued activity of COMPAL in 2016. The aim of the activity is to allow consumer protection officials and professionals to exchange experiences and discuss public policy at the regional level. In its Sixth edition, the forum centred its discussions on digital markets, which led to througouh discussions and paved the way for the meeting of the Iberoamerican Forum of Governmental Agencies of Consumer Protection (FIAGC in Spanish), which took place back-to-back with the forum. The Forum was rated as "very relevant to daily life of the institution" by 95.7% of participating agencies. The Forum also hosted the signature of the agreement between the Costa Rican and Paraguayan agencies and sparked talks for the agreement between the Mexican and Uruguayan agencies.
As expressed in an internal evaluation, this has been highest valued activity of COMPAL in 2016. The aim of the activity is to allow consumer protection officials and professionals to exchange experiences and discuss public policy at the regional level. In its Sixth edition, the forum centred its discussions on digital markets, which led to througouh discussions and paved the way for the meeting of the Iberoamerican Forum of Governmental Agencies of Consumer Protection (FIAGC in Spanish), which took place back-to-back with the forum. The Forum was rated as "very relevant to daily life of the institution" by 95.7% of participating agencies. The Forum also hosted the signature of the agreement between the Costa Rican and Paraguayan agencies and sparked talks for the agreement between the Mexican and Uruguayan agencies.
Annual Meeting of Working Group on Trade and Competition, Roatan, Honduras 9-11 November 2016
UNCTAD and SELA gathered 40 participants from competition and trade authorities of the following countries: Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Switzerland; as well as representatives of Andean Community (CAN), CARICOM, ECLAC, CEPAL and the WTO. The discussions delved on two issues of great importance to the region, namely: the regulation of competition in regional integration agreements and the treatment of dumping by competition and trade regimes. 87% of participants considered discussions "very useful" for their daily work.
INDECOPI-COMPAL School on Competition Lima, Peru 23-27 November 2016
UNCTAD organized a high-level intensive course on competition advocacy for operative staff of competition agencies in cooperation with the Peruvian INDECOPI School. A total of 30 officials in charge of advocacy in their respective agencies were trained in this one-week face-to-face course which was delivered by Dr. Diego Petrecolla (academic and UNCTAD consultant), Mr Mateo Silos and Ms. María Sobrino (CNMC-Spain) and Ms. Ellen Conelly (FTC-Unites States). The course also included a training of trainers so participating officials would better replicate it in their home agencies. National replications were completed in January 2017, yielding a total of 550 people trained in this matter. Participants increased their competencies in advocacy by 30% in average.
School of judges Lima, Peru 22 to 24 March 2017
At the request of its member competition agencies, COMPAL organized a 3-day intensive course on the principles of competition to judges of its 16 beneficiary countries. The training was co-organized with the Peruvian Judicial School AMAG and was the first regional training of this kind. The course was based on practical examples and aimed at providing a more harmonious understanding of competition enforcement and the role of judicial review throughout the region. In 2017, COMPAL will organize an analogous course on consumer protection.
At the request of its member competition agencies, COMPAL organized a 3-day intensive course on the principles of competition to judges of its 16 beneficiary countries. The training was co-organized with the Peruvian Judicial School AMAG and was the first regional training of this kind. The course was based on practical examples and aimed at providing a more harmonious understanding of competition enforcement and the role of judicial review throughout the region. In 2017, COMPAL will organize an analogous course on consumer protection.
Knowledge management tool and update of COMPAL website
One of the most ambitious activities of COMPAL in 2016 has been the design and implementation of an interactive knowledge management tool, where all products of COMPAL I, II and III (over 200 documents on manuals, guidelines, studies, reports, etc.). This has been a key activity to ensure the sustainability and relevance of the programme as it ensures more visibility and better interaction among members, between members and the COMPAL team in Geneva, and between COMPAL and external stakeholders. The tool is available at: www.unctadcompal.org
Exchange among member agencies, November 2016 and January 2017
One of the activities with best return for investment was the direct exchange between COMPAL member agencies, which aimed at enhancing the exchange of experiences, deepening South-South cooperation and ensuring a multiplier effect. For this purpose, COMPAL organized a contest whereby sending and receiving agencies proposed internships. Applications were evaluated on the criteria of efficiency, efficacy and impact. One of the three winning internships was on competition, proposed by the Costa Rican and Peruvian Agencies, whereby the newly appointed Head of Investigations of the former visit the latter for one week in order to better design her team and internal procedures. The other two winning internships were on consumer protection, proposed by Chile and Uruguayan agencies to visit the Mexican agency for one week to learn and later implement two of its most successful initiatives: the online dispute resolution mechanisms CONCILIANET and the testing laboratory.
One of the activities with best return for investment was the direct exchange between COMPAL member agencies, which aimed at enhancing the exchange of experiences, deepening South-South cooperation and ensuring a multiplier effect. For this purpose, COMPAL organized a contest whereby sending and receiving agencies proposed internships. Applications were evaluated on the criteria of efficiency, efficacy and impact. One of the three winning internships was on competition, proposed by the Costa Rican and Peruvian Agencies, whereby the newly appointed Head of Investigations of the former visit the latter for one week in order to better design her team and internal procedures. The other two winning internships were on consumer protection, proposed by Chile and Uruguayan agencies to visit the Mexican agency for one week to learn and later implement two of its most successful initiatives: the online dispute resolution mechanisms CONCILIANET and the testing laboratory.
Guide for business on compliance on competition and consumer protection and Guide for business on leniency programmes for Colombia and Peru
In 2016, COMPAL has also aimed at enhancing competition culture among the business community. In so doing, COMPAL is producing two sets of guidelines for business to better understand and apply competition law in Colombia and Peru, the first one on competition compliance and the second one on leniency programmes. The guidelines are expected by June 2017.
In 2016, COMPAL has also aimed at enhancing competition culture among the business community. In so doing, COMPAL is producing two sets of guidelines for business to better understand and apply competition law in Colombia and Peru, the first one on competition compliance and the second one on leniency programmes. The guidelines are expected by June 2017.
Exchange with the Swiss Competition Commission
In 2016, COMPAL facilitated 2 internships of officials of the Superintendencia de Competencia of El Salvador to the Swiss Competition Commission (WEKO), each for a duration of 3-months. This activity has been rated highly relevant by the beneficiary agency.
In 2016, COMPAL facilitated 2 internships of officials of the Superintendencia de Competencia of El Salvador to the Swiss Competition Commission (WEKO), each for a duration of 3-months. This activity has been rated highly relevant by the beneficiary agency.
In the coming year, COMPAL will continue ongoing activities and will add to them with:
- Study on the impact of competition and consumer protection in the economy
- Study on the cooperation among COMPAL member agencies
- Training of judges on consumer protection issues
- Workshops for businesses on compliance, leniency and unfair business practices
- Study on the impact of competition and consumer protection in the economy
- Study on the cooperation among COMPAL member agencies
- Training of judges on consumer protection issues
- Workshops for businesses on compliance, leniency and unfair business practices
Participants: Consumer Protection Agencies from Latin America, Swizerland as the donor, and other interested observer countries.
Panelists:
• Mr. Alexandre Guyot, Chargé d'affairs a.i. of Switzerland in Panamá
• Mr. Oscar García Cardoze, General Administrator ACODECO, Panama
• Ms. Ivo Gagliuffi, President INDECOPI, Peru
• Mr. Fernando Blanco Muiño, Director of Dirección Nacional de Defensa del Consumidor, Argentina
• Ms. Cynthia Zapata, Director DAC, Costa Rica
• Mr. Francisco Díaz, Superintendent of Superintendencia de Competencia, El Salvador
• Mr. Byron Sagastume, Director DIACO, Guatemala
• Mr. Carlos Filartiga, President CONACOM, Paraguay
• Ms. Ana María Sánchez, Director Área Defensa del Consumidor, Uruguay
• Mr. Esteban Greco, CNDC, Argentina
• Mr. Alberto Lozano, President CDPC, Honduras
• Mr. Oscar García Cardoze, General Administrator ACODECO, Panama
• Ms. Ivo Gagliuffi, President INDECOPI, Peru
• Mr. Fernando Blanco Muiño, Director of Dirección Nacional de Defensa del Consumidor, Argentina
• Ms. Cynthia Zapata, Director DAC, Costa Rica
• Mr. Francisco Díaz, Superintendent of Superintendencia de Competencia, El Salvador
• Mr. Byron Sagastume, Director DIACO, Guatemala
• Mr. Carlos Filartiga, President CONACOM, Paraguay
• Ms. Ana María Sánchez, Director Área Defensa del Consumidor, Uruguay
• Mr. Esteban Greco, CNDC, Argentina
• Mr. Alberto Lozano, President CDPC, Honduras
UNCTAD:
• Teresa Moreira, Chief of Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Juan Luís Crucelegui, Chief of ¨Capacity Building and Advisory Services, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Arnau Izaguerri, Associate Legal Officer COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• William Taborda, Information Systems Officer COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Valentina Rivas, Expert, COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Juan Luís Crucelegui, Chief of ¨Capacity Building and Advisory Services, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Arnau Izaguerri, Associate Legal Officer COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• William Taborda, Information Systems Officer COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
• Valentina Rivas, Expert, COMPAL Programme, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch (CCPB)
Documents
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(DITC/CCPB/COMPAL) - 14/03/2017 - 1087 KB
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| Co-organized with: | Panama |
| Sponsor / funding: | UNCTAD/COMPAL and host country |
| Language(s): | English; Spanish; |
| Contact: | |
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