Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US
Commonwealth Business Communications
Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US

Botswana welcomes scrutiny of competition law and policy

  • CBC News Team
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Voluntary peer review of legal and institutional competition framework welcomed, underlining its government’s commitment to a fair business environment

Citizens of Botswana can look forward to improved protection from sharp practice and graft, the southern African nation's minister of investment, trade and industry Bogolo Joy Kenewendo told an UNCTAD meeting of competition experts today.

Ms. Kenewendo travelled to Geneva to receive findings from a voluntary peer review of Botswana's competition law and policy facilitated by UNCTAD and reviewed by experts from South Africa, Kenya and the United States of America.

“Botswana welcomes the peer review recommendations and recognizes competition policy as catalyst for economic development, which has direct impact on economic growth,” Ms. Kenewendo said.

“As a developing nation, one of our key strategies for sustained growth has been to open our markets and liberalize our economy.”

To accompany such reforms Botswana established its competition authority in 2011, Ms. Kenewendo said, and plans to expand its mandate to include consumer protection under a new law enacted in 2018.

“The strengthening of consumer protection by placing the Consumer Protection Act under the administration of the competition authority has been identified as a strategic priority consideration to strengthen and maintain an institutional emphasis on consumer welfare and to reduce the opportunity for business to deny consumers the benefits of competitive markets by engaging in unfair business practices.”

While peer reviewers identified some points for improvement in the scope and application of Botswana's competition law and policy, Ms. Kenewendo said her government accepted the report and welcomed its recommendations.

Reform agenda

“We really appreciate a good job well done,” said Botswana Competition Authority chief executive officer Tebelelo Pule. She said some – but not all – of the review's recommendations, which were based on the former law, have already been addressed by the new law.

The merger of the competition and consumer protection functions was “doable” while being “cognizant of the setbacks”, Ms. Pule said.

By working with others who have gone through it before, she said, “I believe we can execute this mandate”.

The director general of the Competition Authority of Kenya, Francis Kariuki, who was one of the peer reviewers, said: “After you have been peer reviewed, you can use the document to champion the reform agenda in your country”.

Kenya's competition law and policy was peer reviewed under UNCTAD stewardship in 2005, when UNCTAD first start this exercise.

UNCTAD has used the findings and policy recommendations of the Botswana peer review report to a design bespoke technical assistance project to reinforce the effectiveness of competition law enforcement. Development partners and donors have been invited to support the project.

Reducing poverty

UNCTAD's work on competition law and policy recognizes its symbiotic relationship with consumer protection law and policy, and host back-to-back intergovernmental meetings in both fields each year.

“Competition and consumer protection can play a direct and important role in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty, said Teresa Moreira, who leads UNCTAD's work in these fields.

“Competition stimulates innovation, productivity and competitiveness, contributing to an effective business environment,” she said.

“This generates economic growth and employment. It creates possibilities for small and medium-sized enterprises, removing barriers that protect entrenched elites and reducing opportunities for corruption.”

Meanwhile, empowered consumers play an active role in the market and are subject to fewer abuses when they stand to their rights, Ms. Moreira said.

“This directly improves their welfare. It contributes to creating a level playing field for businesses, which in turn supports competition.”

Learn more: UNCTAD

UNCTAD_Botswana.jpg

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
CBC News Team

Previous Article

In Africa, government action is key to overcoming challenges of growth, jobs and inequalities

  • CBC News Team
Read More
Next Article

Missed Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls

  • CBC News Team
Read More
You May Also Like
Peter Obi lands surprise victory in Lagos
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Peter Obi lands surprise victory in Lagos

  • CBC News Team
  • 27 February 2023
New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle pummels the country
Read More
  • Uncategorized

New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle pummels the country

  • CBC News Team
  • 17 February 2023
Flag of Nauru
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Celebrating Nauru Independence Day

  • CBC News Team
  • 31 January 2023
Malta encourages bilingualism with new policy
Read More
  • Education & Youth
  • MALTA
  • EDUCATION
  • EUROPE
  • Uncategorized

Malta encourages bilingualism with new policy

  • CBC News Team
  • 12 January 2023
Read More
  • Uncategorized

FREEDOM DAY – SOUTH AFRICA

  • CBC News Team
  • 27 April 2022
Read More
  • Uncategorized

Anzac day

  • CBC News Team
  • 25 April 2022
Read More
  • Uncategorized

HM THE QUEEN MARKS 70 YEARS AS HEAD OF COMMONWEALTH

  • CBC News Team
  • 5 February 2022
Read More
  • Uncategorized

NATIONAL DAY – GIBRALTAR

  • CBC News Team
  • 10 September 2021
OUR LATEST PUBLICATION

Subscribe to our Newsletter

PARTNER FOCUS
Recent Posts
  • Bangladesh Independence Day is celebrated annually on 26 March to commemorate the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
    Celebrating Bangladesh Independence Day
  • Celebrating Namibia Independence Day
    Celebrating Namibia Independence Day
  • Commonwealth Day 2023
    Commonwealth Day 2023
  • Celebrating Mauritius Independence Day
    Celebrating Mauritius Independence Day

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2022 Commonwealth Business Communications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.