The Objectives

The main objective of the ACCs is to achieve regional acceptance on the importance of competition policy from various stakeholders, e.g., government officials, members of parliament, businesses, politicians, academics, etc.  Such acceptance and support would be necessary for AMSs to foster and accelerate the process of adopting and strengthening CPL in the region. A culture of healthy competition and business rivalries would in turn help achieving the economic integration, dynamism and competitiveness, including the freeing up of trade and investment, as stipulated in the AEC Blueprint.

The detail objectives of this conference are:

1. Achieving regional acceptance on the importance of competition policy from various stakeholders;
2. Fostering and accelerating the adoption and strengthening of competition policy in AMSs;
3. Raising public awareness on competition policy issues in ASEAN region;
4. Facilitating networking among officials responsible for competition issues within and outside ASEAN;
5. Deepening competition policy dialogue with relevant agencies responsible for competition issues from ASEAN dialogue partners and other countries.

The ASEAN Competition Conference is planned to be held for two (2) days on 15-16 November 2011 (or D-2 before 19th ASEAN Summit) leading up to the date of 19th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings in Bali, Indonesia. The topics would be on “Fostering the Promotion of Competition Policy in ASEAN”. The draft Agenda for this event is attached in ANNEX 1.

The ACC will discuss several aspects of competition law and policy implementation that are of international interest. As the first series, the topics will focus on how to increase public acceptance on competition policy and law; elaborate challenges in introducing and implementing; and finding best solution for the future of competition policy and law in the region. Therefore, the topics will consist of several issues as follows:

1. The Benefits of Competition Law and Policy to Consumers, Economic Growth, and Development
2. Competition Law and Policy: Support to Small Medium Enterprises and Employment Creation
3. The Experiences gained in Adopting and Implementing Competition Law and Policy
4. The Challenges in introducing Competition Law and Policy in ASEAN Member States
5. Comparisons of Competition Regimes in ASEAN
6. The Role of Competition Law and Policy in Promoting ASEAN Economic Community and International Competitiveness
7. The Way Forward

The first topic of “the benefits of competition law and policy to consumers, economic growth, and development” will discuss on how competition policy (as well as the law) may take role in benefiting the consumer, economic growth, and development of a nation. This fundamental topic aims to provide actual practices or examples of how those issues related. This topic also may cover a quantitative study report on how competition policy takes part in national economic development or an actual example on the measurement of success for competition policy and law in a country, along with the need and strategy for attaching competition policy development within national programs and priorities.

The second topic of “competition law and policy: support to small medium enterprises and employment creation” will discuss how with the adoption of competition law and policy, supports for small medium enterprise and employment are well maintained. Some public opinions argued that competition may increase pressure to the small-medium enterprises (SME) as many new players entering the market or severe competition may lead to the abolishment of a company to increase unemployment rate. This session in specific will discuss current condition of small and medium enterprises and unemployment in ASEAN and how the competition policy is needed in supporting and reinforcing both issues. The example of the real case of the ASEAN countries on these efforts was expected to being put forward in that session. It is also expected that experts may share some researches indicate that gains associated to an increase in market competition coupled with an increased flexibility of the labor market and employment rate.

The third and forth topics of countries experiences will discuss current condition of competition policy and law in ASEAN with the main objective to share best practices of developed competition law to less developed countries. It is expected that each ASEAN Member State could hear one another by acknowledging their challenges and finding best solution and practices that may be adapted in their respective jurisdiction.

The fifth session on “comparisons of competition regimes in ASEAN” is a forum for legal practitioners or law professors to share their study or thought in comparing the diversity of competition regimes in ASEAN, and elaborating challenges that may arise in pursuing competition policy in the region.

The sixth topic of “the role of competition law and policy in promoting ASEAN Economic Community and international competitiveness” will focus on how ASEAN Member States can put competition policy and law as one of the main factor to increase regional competitiveness to compete with other economic regions. It is believed that in the near future, the world of trade will clusters and escalates to a competition between economic regions. Therefore, this session should find a way of ensuring that the ASEAN region will eventually develop into an internationally competitive single market and investment area by utilizing the regional competition policy and law. Best practices from other economic regions may also be shared in this session.

The seventh session is a policy dialogue or lecture by a highly competent international expert on competition policy. The topic of “the way forward” will summarize findings based on available discussion at the previous sessions, and share comprehensive ideas on how ASEAN should move forward with their competition policy and law to achieve the 2015’s objectives as well as of beyond the 2015.

The Organizer, Participant, and Sponsor

The conference will be organized by the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition Republic of Indonesia (hereinafter referred to as “KPPU”), in collaboration with ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC). This conference would have more than 200 participants, including speakers from within and beyond the ASEAN region. ACC participants include more than 25 speakers and moderators from Indonesia, ASEAN, Australia, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and United States of America. The participants will consist of government, law enforcer, parliament, academic, and business people that mostly come from ASEAN Member States. This event is held as a joint financial cooperation from KPPU, GIZ (German International Cooperation), and AANZFTA (ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area) Economic Cooperation Work Program (ECWP), and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

The Venue and Accomodation

Padma Resort Bali at the Legian
Jl. Padma No. 1, Legian
Bali 80361 – INDONESIA
Phone: +62 361 752 111
Fax: +62 361 752 140
(http://www.padmaresortbali.com/)

Padma Resort Bali at Legian, one of Bali’s leading five-star beachfront deluxe resort, located conveniently at the famous Legian Beach and in close proximity to some of the most attractive tourist spots on the island, like traditional art and fashion market of Legian street. The hotel is situated around 25 minutes by car to Georgetown and around 15 minutes to Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Indonesian and continental cuisines are served at Taman Ayun Cafe & Lounge, Italian at Bella Rosa Restaurant and Japanese at Tenkai Restaurant. Guests can watch the legendary Legian sunset, while enjoying a refreshing drink at Sunset Bar. Complimentary resort facilities such as internet access in public area and guest rooms, departure lounge, gym, sauna and steam room, kids club, games centre and parking area are available for all hotel guess.

Organizer has secured limited number of rooms at the Padma Resort Bali for all participants who wish to stay in the hotel at a negotiated special rate of IDR 1,550,000/room or USD 195 for Deluxe room. These rates include breakfast for two persons. Any other additional expenditure such as telecommunication, room services, bar services, laundry, etc will be covered by participants individually. Credit Card Number is required for hotel registration.

If you stay at the Padma Resort Bali for at least 3 (three) nights, there will be a free airport pick-up service for you to and from the Ngurah Rai International Airport provided by the hotel.

The ACC is hosted in Bali where series of ASEAN’s high level meeting take place. Therefore, flight and accommodation might be tight. Therefore please kindly make your room reservation as soon as possible after you decide to visit and participate for this event. List of hotels and their rates are listed in Annex II.

Language and Disclosure Policy

The seminar will be held in English. All presentation materials are assumed to be public and may be used for other activities without any modification.

Facilities Provided

The Commission will provide arrangement for the conference and meeting. Participants are expected to provide and arrange their own travel arrangement and accommodation.

Miscellaneous

• Entry VISA is required for some participants. They should contact the Indonesian Embassy or Consular Representative in their countries prior to their departure. Visa on Arrivals (VOA) is available to 62 countries and 1 region (please check http://www.deplu.go.id/Pages/ServiceDisplay.aspx?IDP=7&IDP2=21&Name=ConsularService&l=en to find out whether your country is eligible to the VOA). This visa can be obtained directly when you arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport for maximum stay of 30 (thirty) days and could be extended (one time) for a maximum of 30 (thirty) days. Please find one of the “VOA Counters” to pay the appropriate fees (USD 10 for up to 7 days or USD 25 for up to 30 days) and have your passports stamped with the VOA before proceeding to the Immigration Clearance Desk. Payment of visa fees can be made in US Dollar or Indonesia Rupiah.
• Entering Indonesia without any visa is possible now only for nationals of the following 12 countries and territories: Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong SAR (Special Administration Region), Macao SAR, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Ecuador.
• Those who are from economies without an Indonesian Embassy or Consulate should contact the KPPU for arrangement on their visas.
• Airport tax at Ngurah Rai International Airport is IDR 150,000. This tax is collected upon your departure from Indonesia.
• The average temperature in Bali during November is between 28 and 33 C.
• Long distance calls can be made from hotel rooms or public phones. Pre-paid phone cards are available at the hotel or convenience stores, and they can be used either for domestic or international calls. Please be noted that all charges for personal phone calls made in the hotel rooms are borne by participants. Most of local GSM and CDMA network providers are available for mobile phone users.
• The Indonesian currency is the Rupiah (IDR). The exchange rate is approximately IDR 9,000 for USD 1. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels and department stores. Cash is preferable in rural and market areas.
• Ten percents tipping is common (but not mandatory) in many hotels and or restaurants.

Important Date

Participants are expected to complete the registration form (Annex III) for each participant and send it to KPPU through our contact point (e-mail: international@kppu.go.id, deswin.nur@gmail.com and c.c: ika@kppu.go.id and beny@asean.org) and by Fax No. (62-21) 3507008 in order to avoid delay. Please kindly send your interest to participate before 15 October 2011 and the complete registration form before 25 October 2010.

Speakers are expected to finalized the presentation by 31 October 2011 and send it to mentioned e-mail address. Please kindly note that all presentation materials are assumed to be public and may be used for other competition advocacy activities without any modification.  In need of special treatment under this disclosure policy, please contact by e-mail before/on the submission of materials. Speaker’s presentation will be sent to the Discussants by 1 November 2011 in order to assist them in providing comments at the conference. Discussants who wish to make a slide presentation elaborating such comments may send the materials by 7 November 2011.

Speakers, Discussants, and Moderators are expected to inform the flight number, date of arrival and departure and send the information to KPPU by e-mail and or fax not later than by 5 November 2011.

To summarize, the important date related to the conference are as follows.

The Agenda
See Annex I.

List of Recommended Hotels
See Annex II.

Registration Form
See Annex III.