Earlier in April 2020, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) published the Fijian Competition and Consumer Protection Policy Statement. This sets out Fijian Government’s commitments in relation to competition and consumer protection in the Fijian market for goods and services.
The Policy Statement will help deliver markets that are competitive, efficient, fair, and informed to help achieve a better Fiji for all. Effective competition in the Fijian market is healthy for the economy. In competitive markets, consumers get better value for money; producers offer additional choices; suppliers produce goods and services more efficiently and innovate by developing new or better ones. Businesses, particularly smaller scale, have a fair opportunity to enter the market and grow. These benefits will be chiefly important as we return to a better, brighter Fiji post COVID-19.
Evolving business practices, new technologies, and international developments require adjustments to enforcement law, enforcement priorities and policy. Fiji has benefitted from increased competition by easing restrictions in the telecommunications sector, allowing entry of Digicel in 2008 and a fall in consumer prices for each gigabyte of data we use. The Policy Statement will help to extend these positive effects throughout the economy.
The Fijian Government remains committed to on-going review of existing laws and practices to remove unnecessary constraints on competition. This means the MCTTT will be revising the Fijian Competition Consumer Commission (FCCC) Act 2010, inter alia, to ensure FCCC is able to promote greater self-regulation and compliance and reduce restrictive trade practices.
Modern tools to help the FCCC curtail anti-competitive conduct, will also be introduced. For example, overseas experience suggest that a ‘whistle-blower’ immunity programme can help FCCC deter cartels that restrict the quantity of goods while raising their prices.
Micro and small enterprises are expected to be accorded similar rights and recourse as consumers in their dealings with other traders.
Government business activities will also be a part of this policy to ensure a level-playing field that is competitive.
To deliver the new policy and its intended benefits, MCTTT will be working in collaboration with other institutions to initiate this revision.
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