A delegation from ECOWAS/ERCA led by Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Financial Affairs and Agriculture, accompanied by the Government Director of ARCC, Dr Simeon Konan KOFFI and representatives of the Nationwide Competitors Fee, held an data and a sensitisation session with nationwide stakeholders about Group provisions on competitors and client safety, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 29 and 30 April 2024.
Whereas in Côte d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS mission met with senior officers from ministries, authorities departments and businesses, enterprise organisations, skilled organisations, exporters’ organisations, the Chamber of Commerce and Trade and client organisations. The ECOWAS mission briefed all these stakeholders on ERCA’s mandate, its scope of intervention and its predominant ongoing actions, and introduced the assorted authorized and operational devices for implementing Group guidelines on competitors and client safety.
Commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse and the ECOWAS specialists additionally mentioned the framework for collaboration and trade with the Member States, significantly in relations to market research and surveys, information assortment, administration and sharing, in addition to capacity-building and help for stakeholders.
For reference, ERCA, in collaboration with the nationwide competitors authorities and different nationwide stakeholders, conducts market research with a view to gaining a greater understanding of the sectors involved, present and potential prospects and their views on operations in these markets, the regulatory setting and competing services and products.
ERCA additionally has a Competitors Data System with a nationwide element for the gathering and administration of standard, dependable, constant and sustainable data. The ECOWAS Competitors Data System (ECIS) can present information for monitoring competitors on the ECOWAS stage, together with assessing the results of anti-competitive practices on the regional market in addition to the financial and social curiosity of shoppers.
As well as, to document and streamline the gathering and processing of complaints, referrals to ERCA are facilitated by its Digital Competitors Data System (ECIS) via the complaints administration platform, accessible through its web site www.erca-arcc.org. A cooperation settlement between ECOWAS/ERCA and every Member State is underneath preparation.
Lastly, with the intention to rationalise the actions of the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in competitors issues and to make sure efficient and coherent implementation of Group competitors coverage throughout the area, the 2 Commissions, via their competitors authorities, ERCA and the UEMOA Competitors Directorate, maintain common consultations and have concluded a Cooperation Settlement.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS).
