On the 5th of December 1980, the UN General Assembly ratified the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices (UN Set). Since then, every 5th of December is remembered and commemorated as World Competition Day.

In relation to this, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring every 05th of December, as National Competition Day. (http://www.gov.ph/2012/05/18/proclamation-no-384-s-2012/) .

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) fully supports the observance of World Competition Day since `Competition increases consumer welfare,` said PIDS president Dr. Josef Yap.

Many countries still suffer from weak competition practices such as the prevalence of cartels. Most consumers of these countries have limited to no understanding of the harmful effects of a weak market competition. Observing World Competition Day allows for greater exchange among concerned stakeholders about the beneficial effects of competition, especially on the average consumer.

To effectively communicate to the common man the message, Say No to Cartels, various stakeholders such as competition agencies, CSOs, development organisations and individuals around the world are planning to organise seminars/roadshows, publish newspaper articles/press releases, hold press conference, etc to celebrate the World Competition Day with the purpose of creating awareness about the importance and benefit of competition by curbing cartels.

Various countries have expressed their support to this endeavor through a letter to UNCTAD namely: Namibia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, The Gambia, Fiji; Russia, Zambia and United Kingdom; and many more countries are in the process to send formal letter to UNCTAD.

To know more about the World Competition Day (WCD):
Please contact
Udai S. Mehta, CUTS International
usm@cuts.org; +91 98292 85926
and
Ashutosh Soni, CUTS International
ash@cuts.org; + 91 99501 77012

Visit the follow web links:
www.incsoc.net/World_Competition_Day.htm
and http://www.facebook.com/worldcompetitionday

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