Madagascar is taking a new step forward in strengthening its competition policy and consumer protection. A training workshop this week brings together representatives from relevant ministries, the private sector, consumer advocacy associations, and experts from the Comesa Competition Commission. The goal is to share best practices and strengthen the implementation of national legislation.
According to Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Haingotiana Michela Angela Andriamadison, this initiative aligns with the state's policy to establish fair competition, which is essential for attracting investors, promoting business development, and ensuring consumers access quality products at competitive prices.
The minister noted that cooperation with Comesa is based on a memorandum of understanding designed to harmonize national provisions with regional rules. She praised the technical support of regional experts who shared their experience with participants.
The ministry continues market inspections to remove expired or dangerous products from circulation. The minister reaffirmed authorities' commitment to strictly enforce laws against traders selling products that could endanger consumer health.
Steven Kamukama, Director of Consumer Welfare and Defense at the Comesa Competition Commission, recalled that Madagascar-Comesa cooperation reached a decisive milestone in 2016 with a memorandum of understanding between the Comesa Competition Commission and Madagascar's Competition Council.
This agreement formalized information exchanges during investigations and clarified each institution's responsibilities in monitoring mergers and acquisitions. Kamukama also mentioned the 19th Comesa Heads of State Summit held in Antananarivo in October 2016, where the Council of Ministers validated the Competition Commission's financial operations and decided that Madagascar would benefit from a portion of fees from regional concentration operations.
Nationally, 2016 marked the effective implementation of mandatory notification of concentration operations, including mergers and acquisitions, in accordance with a decree adopted in late 2015. This development is part of the process to harmonize Madagascar's rules with Comesa standards.
Documents presented at the workshop note that the Competition Council is an independent administrative authority responsible for ruling on cartels, abuse of dominant position, and concentration operations. It also provides advisory services to public authorities. Distributed brochures detail how to file complaints with this institution, enabling administrations, businesses, and individuals to report potential anticompetitive practices.