ASEAN Focusing on Selection and Prioritization of Sectors or Industries for Market Studies.

Brunei Darussalam, 17 January 2018, Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) working together with Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and Competition Commission of Brunei Darussalam held two days workshop from 17-18 January 2018 in Badi’ah Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan, this workshop took place under JAPAN-ASEAN Integration Fund Project on Technical Assistance for ASEAN Competition Authorities. The theme of the workshop is “Selection and Prioritization of Sectors or Industries for Market Studies” which was attended by more than 40 participants from 10 (ten) ASEAN member countries. Some of ASEAN Member States has contributed to the workshop such as Indonesia (KPPU), Singapore (CCS), Phillippines (PHCC) and Malaysia (MyCC). For the speakers, Dr. Hassan Qaqaya from the University of Melbourne, Dr. Hiroaki Ishigaki from NERA Economic Consulting, and Mr. Maman Setiawan from the University of Padjajaran Indonesia were delivering interesting presentations and  had active discussions with participants.

The workshop was focused on the objective of market study and its effect on the selection and prioritization of sectors to be studied, which covered the session on; (i) selection and prioritization of sectors for study, (ii) market study scoping, (iii) recommended report outline for market study, (iv) common methodology and analysis used for market study, (v) doing a survey in supporting market study, (vi) experience in market study in logistic sector, (vii) experience in market study for cement industry, (viii) how to prepare a policy advise using the finding of market study, (ix) managing interface of competition authorities and policy makers in market studies and, (x) advocating the studies and its ex post evaluation.

In his presentation, Hassan Qaqaya conveyed that market studies priorities may focus on areas with greater impact, focus on inadequacy of business infrastructure, focus on special problems within markets which insufficiently informed and also focus on ensuring that government business should not enjoy any competitive advantage as a result of their public sector ownership. Maman Setiawan then conveyed that in collecting and gathering the data, we need to consider the background of market research and then conducting stakeholder interviews, consultation and focus group, disseminating surveys and questionnaires, and considering the third party data acquisition and regulatory mapping.