Author: Administrator

Area of Work: SDG, Economy, Trade, & Investment

Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG) in association with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), as represented by its affiliated unit – Statistical, Economic and Social Research & Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) – has organized a three day Training & Workshop Program on the “Basics of Competition Law” which started on June 28 and will go on till June 30 (Friday-Sunday), 2013 at the Conference Center of IPAG. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Shaikh Md. Wahid-uz-Zaman attended the inaugural ceremony for the training session as the Chief Guest.

IPAG has been making positive contribution in raising the awareness on the benefits resulting from enforcement of the Competition Law that can make competition fair and even in the market place. In July 01-02, 2012, IPAG, along with its strategic partners organized a Seminar and Dialogue in Dhaka titled ‘Benefits of Competition Reforms in Bangladesh: Importance of Competition Law’. As part of its continued endeavor, IPAG has been exploring the opportunities to tap into the experience of Competition Commission from other developing countries which have been successful in the enactment and implementation of such laws. Of particular importance is to learn from the best practices of counterparts in other developing countries. The Government of Bangladesh passed Competition Law in June 2012. But the establishment of Competition Commission and the formulation of necessary rules and regulations to implement the law are in the formative stage. Against such a backdrop, IPAG, in association with OIC-SESRIC, has taken the initiative to disseminate the importance of Competition Law and Policy to key stakeholders to facilitate implementation of the legislation. During the three day training session, success stories on effective implementation of Competition Laws in selected OIC member countries will be shared with the participants with relevant case studies. This will help the trainees get exposure to real life practical experience of how Competition Laws have been formulated and implemented in the OIC countries.

The training session is being attended by distinguished representative members from the relevant ministries and divisions of the government such as the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs and other such ministries who are crucial to the successful implementation of the Competition Law and Policy. Representatives of various trade bodies such as Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & industry (DCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICC) Bangladesh, CAB also attended the inaugural ceremony of the three day long training session. This training session and workshop is part of an ongoing initiative to disseminate the importance of competition law to the senior level decision makers and the business community of the country in order to facilitate the effective implementation of the legislation.