Competition authorities meet with individual businesses or business associations either on specific provisions of competition law or to discuss the operations of the competition authority in general. While these are often at the request of the business community, competition authorities can take a proactive role and seek out opportunities to build awareness themselves. This interpersonal channel provides face-to-face contact with competition officials and encourages interaction.
Canada
The Competition Bureau Canada has a successful bid-rigging awareness program. It is based on the Bureau’s strong belief that bid-rigging can be thwarted by educating purchasers on how to detect and prevent the crime. The program targets private and public sector procurement professional through procurement associations, and government purchasing agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Bureau officials teach procurement officials how to prevent and detect bid-rigging and how to assist the Bureau when they suspect bid-rigging. The sessions also enable officers to directly answer questions raised by the participants. The Bureau has also produced an animated multimedia presentation, available on CD Rom and its Web site.
Japan
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC) sends speakers to seminars and conferences at a business association’s request in order to explain and answer questions about a variety of topics. Most recently, it sent speakers to explain the newly amended Anti-monopoly Act, and its implementation rules and regulations. The JFTC also meets with business associations such as the Japan Business Federation, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance their understanding of the JFTC’s activities and implementation of the Anti-monopoly Act.
Turkey
The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) maintains links with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), which is the official representative of businesspersons. The TCA regularly participates in chambers of commerce meetings. For example, they held a seminar on “Competition for SMES in the Process of EU Negotiations,” which outlined the importance of competition law. TOBB and the local chamber provide the facilities while the TCA provides the speaker(s).
Zambia
The Zambia Competition Commission is often invited to make presentations at various business and trade association fora.