Press Release
C. 18-12 th
El Salvador, August 29 , 2013.
Competition regional legal framework and authority to be discussed in forum The Competition Superintendence is the hostess of the VII Central American Competition Forum in which the competition agencies of Central America are present. The experiences on competition matters will be exchanged and the work executed for the creation of a competition institutional structure and legal framework for the region will be discussed during said event. “There are markets whose competition problems go beyond their boundaries, affecting more than one country. We are working on a competition law and authority empowered to enforce said law in the Central American region”, affirmed Francisco Diaz Rodriguez, Competition Superintendent of El Salvador.
The competition authorities of Central America are meeting in San Salvador, on th th August 28 and 29 , to celebrate the VII Central American Competition Forum. Simultaneously to the celebration of the Forum, the I Mixed Competition-Trade Meeting will take place. This is an innovative initiative that constitutes the first gathering amongst the officers in charge on the Central American Integration and competition agencies to jointly work to create a competition Central American legal framework. At the Central American level, the creation of a competition regional legal framework and institutionalism are important pieces for the consolidation of the integration of Central America, particularly of the economic integration process; and it is a compromise acquired as a region in the Association Accord between Central America and the European Union. Papers prepared by the Central American Competition Network will be presented during the above cited Forum. Said network is a permanent mechanism for coordination amongst competition authorities.
In addition to the Competition Superintendence (CS), the competition agencies and the authorities in charge of trade in Central America are participating in this Forum. The competition agencies present in this meeting are: Comisión para promover la Competencia (COPROCOM) of Costa Rica; Comisión para la Defensa y Promoción de la Competencia (CDPC) of Honduras; Instituto Nacional de Promoción de la Competencia (PROCOMPETENCIA) of Nicaragua; Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia (ACODECO) of Panama; and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). An official from the Competition Authority of Dominican Republic will also be present as an observer. The following authorities in charge of trade in the region are participating in this event: the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador; the Ministry of External Trade of Costa Rica; the Integration Secretariat of Honduras; the Ministry of Promotion and Industry of Nicaragua; and, the National Unit for Treaty Administration and Trade Defense of Panama.
The VII Central American Competition Forum has been organized by the Competition Superintendence, representing the host country; the Instituto Nacional de Promoción de la Competencia (PROCOMPETENCIA) of Nicaragua, as Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Central American Working Group on Competition Policy; and, the Inter-American Development Bank, who finances the Forum through the Regional Public Assets Project ATN(OC11812RG: “Legal Framework and Institutional Model for a Competition Regional Policy”. About the Central American Working Group on Competition Policy th
The Central American Working Group on Competition Policy was created in the 47 Meeting of Economic th Integration Vice-Ministers celebrated on May 4 , 2006, to insure transparency and free access to the economic agents that participate in the various activities of commercial exchange, within and outside Central America, thus, multiplying the benefits of free trade in the region´s countries through the design of a competition regional policy and promotion of its culture. The Central American Group recognized the importance of strengthening the competition policy as a fundamental component within the common policies of the Central American integration process, which contributes to the region´s economic and social development, through the design of a regional policy. The Group also seeks to prevent, detect, and prosecute anticompetitive practices that can be present in regional trade; promote international cooperation at a regional level that allows the strengthening of the institutional capacities; and, promote competition culture in the region, amongst others. When Panama became a member of the Group, it changed its name to Central American Competition Network.