COMESA COMPETITION COMMISSION

The COMESA Competition Commission (“the Commission”) is pleased to announce that the Commission concluded two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on Cooperation in the Application and Enforcement of Laws with the Swaziland Competition Commission (SCC) and the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) of the Seychelles. The Ceremony of signing the MOUs was held on 19^th April 2016 at Royal Villa Hotel, in Ezulwini, Swaziland. The Ceremony was attended by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Mr Jinno Nkhambula; Board Chairperson of the SCC, Mr Sibusisso Motsa; Board of Commissioners of the Commission and other Officials. The signatories of the two MOUs were the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. George K. Lipimile; the Chief Executive Officer of the SCC, Ms Thabisile Langa; and the Chief Executive Officer of the FTC Seychelles, Mr Georges Tirant.

The MOUs are expected to facilitate and promote the harmonization and implementation of Competition Laws of the Commission with the SCC and the FTC in order to foster their effective enforcement. The salient issues that the MOUs cover include:

• The institutions will cooperate where they are investigating related matters and will share relevant information to ensure effective enforcement of their respective competition laws. This will be achieved through the appointment of Desk Officers in the respective institutions and through periodic meetings among officials to exchange information on investigation and enforcement priorities.
• They will consult on matters of competition enforcement and policy and keep each other informed of significant competition policy and enforcement developments in their jurisdictions.
• The institutions will cooperate in advancing technical assistance and capacity building programs through integrated strategies.

These MOUs are not the last that the Commission will sign with COMESA Member State. In this regard, the Commission intends to have cooperation agreements of a similar nature with other COMESA Member States and national Competition Authorities.

Click here to download the MOUs with the Swaziland Competition Commission  and the Fair Trade Commission of Seychelles