Facilitating Trade

Together with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and the Viet Nam Competition Administration Department in Viet Nam's Ministry of Trade, on 3–4 May 2007, ADBI cosponsored the Fourth East Asia Conference on Competition Law and Policy, and the Third Top Level Officials' Meeting on Competition Policy in Hanoi. The conference comprised presentations from individual East Asian competition authorities and a trial peer review session, with each session followed by discussion and questions from the floor.

The objective of the conference was to develop a common understanding among the East Asian economies that the establishment of competition law and its effective implementation are necessary for facilitation of trade and investment, and should be an urgent priority for each economy. Topics discussed in the conference included i) recent development of competition law and policy in East Asian economies and ii) trial peer review on competition law and policy in Viet Nam. Subsequently, the officials' meeting discussed issues including i) future challenges for enacting comprehensive competition law and ii) technical assistance activities in the East Asian region and their coordination and cooperation.

Continuing the partnership, ADBI will cosponsor the Fourth Top Level Officials' Meeting on Competition Policy on 16 April 2008 in Kyoto. The meeting will be held back to back with the Seventh Annual Conference of the International Competition Network, which will be hosted by JFTC on 14–16 April 2008. Both events will take place at the Kyoto International Conference Center.