The Commission is pleased to welcome delegates to the 4th BRICS International Competition Conference (BRICS Conference) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from 12 to 13 November 2015. The BRICS Conference takes place every two years and all the BRICS member states rotate in hosting this prestigious event.
The previous conferences, hosted by the Federal Antimonopoly Services of Russia in 2009, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China in 2011 and Competition Commission of India in 2013, created a solid platform on which BRICS member states can deepen their relations in the field of competition regulation.
The BRICS Conference brings together competition authorities, practitioners, policy experts and other stakeholders from BRICS and other countries to debate and explore developments in competition policy and enforcement. Confirmed speakers include heads of the BRICS competition authorities, Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Prize winner and Professor of Economics at Colombia University), Joel Netshitenzhe (Executive Director at Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflections), Frederic Jenny (Chairman of the OECD’s Competition Law and Policy Committee), Massimo Motta (Professor of Economics and Chief Economist, Director General for Competition at the European Commission), Dennis Davis (Judge President of the Competition Appeal Court of South Africa), Bill Kovacic (Professor of Law and Policy at George Washington University), Alexey Ivanov (Professor of Economics at the Skolkovo-HSE Institute for Law and Development in Russia), Alessandro Octaviani (Professor of Economic Law and Political Economy at the University of Sao Paulo),Wang Xianlin (Distinguished Professor Law of Shanghai Jiao Tong University) , Eleanor Fox (Professor of Law at the New York University) and Mondo Mazwai (a member of the Competition Tribunal of South Africa).
Members of the South African government, including Minister Ebrahim Patel ,Minister Blade Nzimande, eThekwini Executive Mayor, Hon James Nxumalo; KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Senzo Mchunu and MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu, will speak at the conference. Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele and Competition Tribunal Chairman, Mr Norman Manoim, will lead the South African competition authorities’ delegation.
The theme for this year’s BRICS conference is “Competition and Inclusive Growth”. The conference seeks to explore, among other things, the intersection between competition policy and economic development. This is an important issue for BRICS member states as they are uniquely placed to promote and expand an appreciation of competition regulation that recognises the specific needs and demands of the developing world.
Pre-BRICS Conference Events
The BRICS Conference is preceded by two events; a Joint Workshop and the 9th Annual Conference 10 and 11 November 2015, respectively. The workshop is co-hosted by the Commission, Competition and Regulation European Summer School (CRESSE), based in Greece, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The workshop will cover lectures in competition policy. This workshop is the first of its kind in the continent in its breath and scope. The instructors at the workshop include Professor Bill Kovacic, Professor Joseph Harrington, Professor Tom Ross, Dr Jorge Padilla and Professor Yannis Kastoulacos.
The 9th Annual Conference on Competition Law, Economics & Policy is an annual academic platform to discuss cases and developments in competition law enforcement. There will be a blend of panel discussions and plenary sessions featuring renowned local and international speakers.
“The BRICS conference is a strategic platform to explore developing country perspectives on competition policy, and to get an update and insights on developments in BRICS countries. For this reason, this conference is fast becoming an important date in the international antitrust calendar. We are honoured to be the host and I welcome all delegates to our beautiful city of Durban” said Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele.
Conference Information Guide: http://www.evisa-india-online.com//bricsprogramme2.pdf
For more information:
Itumeleng Lesofe (Spokesperson Competition Commission)
Cell: 073 805 7733
E-mail: ItumelengL@compcom.co.za
Themba Mathebula (External Communication Coordinator)
Cell: 076 821 2508
E-mail: thembama@compcom.co.za
