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Future Interventions on Competition Policy and Law issues in West Africa . Rijit Sengupta 7Up4 Final Conference Partners Review Meeting 6 th August 2010, Dakar. Real Impact: Moov story (Togo). - Togo had only one cellular provider TOGOCELL
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Future Interventions on Competition Policy and Law issues in West Africa Rijit Sengupta 7Up4 Final Conference Partners Review Meeting 6th August 2010, Dakar
Real Impact: Moov story (Togo) - Togo had only one cellular provider TOGOCELL - A second (private) operator MOOV was given license to operate in 2006, and gained substantial market position, but its application for renewal of license was disallowed! - A large number of MOOV users were stranded, TOGOCELL was selling lines at a premium - Under mounting public pressure, led by ATC government renewed MOOV license in Jan 2010
Certain Outputs & Outcomes • Challenges for competition reforms identified • Linkages between competition reforms and development better evolved • Roadmap for National Competition Reforms prepared, and discussed • Core group (multi-stakeholder) of individuals/institutions developed • Greater interest generated among state and non-state actors on CPL • Benefits from market competition, and effects of its absence demonstrated
A lot remain to be done… • Need for long-term political commitment on pro-competitive market reforms • Huge demand for knowledge on competition policy/law issues • Considerable interest among civil society (especially project partners) on CPL • High expectations from relevant institutions for follow-up actions
Suggested ‘future activities’ • Education and knowledge development – master’s level courses to train YPs on CPL • National consultations – needs assessment for better enforcement, assistance for developing Competition Policy • Parliamentary advocacy – lobbying for greater attention to CPL • Targeted training – for judges/lawyers, media, etc. • Awareness and Outreach – press campaign, road-shows (National Competition Day)
Country-specific Activities • University course/module on CPL – Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Senegal • Needs Assessment for agency/deptt. - Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Mali, Senegal,Togo • Draft Competition Policy - Nigeria and Ghana • Training for judges & lawyers – all countries • Training journalists to report anti-competitive cases and their impacts – all countries • Parliamentarians’ briefings for better attention to CPL agenda – all countries • Radio talks and Press campaign on CPL and Cons. Protection – all countries
This is just the beginning… Thank You