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ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) Takes Mission to Spread Community Provisions on Competition and Consumer Protection in Côte d’Ivoire

An ECOWAS/ERCA delegation, led by Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, along with Dr. Simeon Konan KOFFI, Executive Director of ARCC, and representatives of the National Competition Commission, conducted an information and sensitization session with national stakeholders regarding Community provisions on competition and consumer protection in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on April 29 and 30, 2024.

During their visit to Côte d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS mission engaged with senior officials from various ministries, government departments, business organizations, professional groups, exporters’ associations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and consumer organizations. The delegation provided an overview of ERCA’s mandate, interventions, ongoing activities, and discussed the legal and operational instruments for enforcing Community regulations on competition and consumer protection.

Commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse and the ECOWAS experts also explored opportunities for collaboration and exchange with Member States, focusing on market studies, data collection, management and sharing, as well as capacity-building and support for stakeholders.

ERCA, in partnership with national competition authorities and other stakeholders, conducts market studies to better understand relevant sectors, customers, regulatory frameworks, competition, and consumer opinions. The Competition Information System collects and manages reliable information at both national and ECOWAS levels to monitor competition and assess the impact of anti-competitive practices on regional markets.

To facilitate complaints handling, ERCA’s Electronic Competition Information System, accessible via their website www.erca-arcc.org, streamlines complaint collection and processing. Cooperation agreements between ECOWAS/ERCA and each Member State are being prepared.

To streamline competition actions within the region, ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions collaborate through their respective competition authorities ERCA and UEMOA Competition Directorate. They hold regular consultations and have signed a Cooperation Agreement to ensure effective implementation of Community competition policies in the region.

This content was distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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