As is known, efforts are undertaken to share our knowledge and experience, in particular with Balkan Competition Authorities and the Competition Authorities of the Organization of Turkic States, as well as with other competition authorities in our geographical region. 

In this context, in line with the multidimensional partnership that has recently developed between Türkiye and Africa and the growing strategic importance of both parties in the global economy, in order to strengthen the contribution of competition policies to economic growth, investments, consumer welfare and sustainable development, activities have been initiated to enhance cooperation between the Turkish Competition Authority and Africa Competition Authorities. The long-term institutional cooperation planned to be strengthened between the Turkish Competition Authority and the competition authorities across the African continent aims to serve for promoting competition culture in our region, developing institutional capacities and consequently supporting open, fair and competitive markets.

To this end, an organization titled “Türkiye-Africa Competition Authorities İstanbul Meeting” was hosted by the Turkish Competition Authority on 29-30 September in İstanbul, with the participation of the presidents and senior representatives of the Competition Authorities of African Countries and International/Regional Institutions working in the area of competition law and policy in the African region.

Senior representatives of  the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCC), East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) and Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), which are regional/international institutions working in the area of competition law and policy in the African Continent as well as the presidents and senior representatives of the competition authorities of Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, the Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, the Republic of South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the meeting.

All delegations participating in the meeting expressed their appreciation to the Turkish Competition Authority, emphasizing the contribution that the meeting will make to the development of competition culture in the African continent. During the meeting, the Turkish Competition Authority and all participating organizations and competition authorities delivered presentations introducing their activities and the exchange of information, which was agreed to be expanded and continued in the period ahead, was initiated through the sharing of important case examples.

At the end of the meeting, the Vice President of the Turkish Competition Authority Assoc. Prof. Hakan Bilir read out the Joint Declaration. Through the Joint Declaration in question, an agreement was reached on the joint activities planned to be carried out in the forthcoming period. Within this framework, understanding has been reached on the following issues to be carried out by Africa competition authorities and regional institutions, in particular activities aimed at raising the awareness of the importance of competition law and policy and encouraging the dissemination of competition culture in the region:

• Periodically sharing experience and information on the legislation and practices of countries in the area of competition policy,
• Carrying out joint projects, organizing meetings and events,
• Conducting capacitybuilding activities among competition authorities, organizing study visits and training programs in this context.

In addition, under the scope of the program, bilateral meetings were held between the Turkish Competition Authority and the participating organizations and competition authorities. In addition, a bilateral cooperation protocol was signed with the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in order to encourage and strengthen the cooperation in the field of competition law enforcement and competition policy; with the protocol in question, the aim is to exchange information and experience concerning the developments about the legislation and the investigations conducted, make mutual study visits, provide expert training and take other active cooperation opportunities.

Respectfully announced to the public.