To commemorate the World Competition Day which is celebrated every December 5, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) along with market players addressed the challenges to effective competition in small island states.
This happened through a workshop held on Wednesday at La Carambole Restaurant with the aim to synchronise all players in the economy, to discuss the challenges faced by small island states such as Seychelles when implementing or incorporating the principles of fair and sound competition process in their organisational functions.
Present at the workshop was the Leader of government business in the National Assembly Charles Decormarmond, members of the National Assembly (MNAs), representatives of various businesses and organisations, staff members of FTC among other guests.
Three members of the competition and surveillance department of FTC – Erol Sophola, Elza Robert and Frederika Confait-Poussou – led a presentation on the challenges faced by small island states as well as the Seychelles economic history of the transition from state controlled to a liberalised economy and our regulations of competition.
Cable and Wireless Seychelles (CWS) director of regulatory and corporate compliance Martin Laurence led a presentation on the challenges they face as a telecom operator, an overview of Seychelles’ telecom market and also a regulatory and technology perspective.
FTC’s chief executive Georges Tirant said: “The commission recognises the need to highlight such an important day which heightens the effectiveness of a competition regime that has the mandate to tackle any anti-competitive practice that may arise within any market.”
He said this workshop is taking place at an opportune time where our laws are being reviewed so FTC sought the participation of market players to provide their input into competition in a small island state as this year’s theme brought the Commission to reflect on its ability to administer the Fair Competition Act while taking cognizance of the size of the country.
“The idea behind this workshop is to educate businesses on the importance of having a fair competition, of avoiding making agreements which could affect consumers such as through price fixing and agreements which could have an adverse effect on competition in itself,” he said.
Seychelles Breweries Ltd (SBL) customer marketing manager Amanda Larue said through the discussions she learned that there is a need of change in the mindset of the trade to increase the competitiveness.
“Fair competition is familiar to us at SBL as we work closely with FTC so we think the change of mentality of the retailers in the trade will bring more competition in the market,” she said.
Source : Seychelles NATION