Economic efficiency achieved through competition policy enforcement and a daily exposure to domestic and foreign competitors can be expected to contribute to more rapid and soundly based economic development. Effective competition laws and polices also facilitate trade liberalisation and put trade partners on the same level playing field. It is welcome news that a growing number of developing countries and transition economies have adopted competition laws recently. The trading and investment system will undoubtedly open and expand further in the coming years, implying a dramatically growing number of economic actors and emerging economies. Never before have so many firms from so many industries invested in so many countries.
International competition is pervasive.
Should governments fail to reform obsolete regulations, to open up markets to foreign competition and to take advantage of further trade and investment liberalisation to penetrate export markets, they will likely condemn their enterprises to become second rank actors, even in their own markets. This is a challenge we are seeking to help our Member countries meet.