KPPU Holds Workshop on Competition Assessment.

Bandar Lampung (12/12) – Chairman of KPPU, Kurnia Toha, opened a Workshop  on Competition Assessment entitled the Implementation of Competition Policy Manual at Central and Regional Level, on Wednesday. “The main objective of KPPU is the welfare of the people and public interest as well as providing the same opportunity to all people to run their business” said Kurnia on that occasion which was also attended by Hamartono Ahadis, Acting Regional Secretary of Lampung Province. “KPPU wishes to continually contributing to virtues in Lampung, minimizing potential violations of Law No.5 Year 1999 in Lampung,” he continued.

Approving of Kurnia, Hamartono appreciated this workshop activity. “The most interesting thing from KPPU is its law enforcement function. The existence of KPPU and competition law may add the dynamics of regional development activities, especially in Lampung Province. KPPU may be present as a supervisor, especially in overseeing government procurement here in Lampung.”

Hamartono continued that economic sector may be enhanced with the support of KPPU in Lampung Province and all business actors in Lampung may compete in a fair manner and are capable of giving a direct impact to this Province. “Take for example the existence of choice of zones in the Airport construction in Lampung to accommodate goods or commodity service transportation in the future. It is expected that KPPU may serve as a guard of clean business activities in Lampung,” he explained.

This Workshop was held by inviting the entire rank and officials of Regional Government in Lampung Province and aimed at exchanging views concerning government policy in supporting the welfare of people in the regions with due observance of Competition Law.

Competition assessment itself comprises four checklists that must be adhered to, such as checking the number of business actors and their capabilities, checking the choice of consumers existing in the field, examining policies or regulations in implementing Law in certain regions, competitive neutrality, the existence of governance transparency,  the existence of control over monopolistic practices, the existence of protection of small-scale-business actors against large-scale-business actors, the existence of protection of domestic business actors against foreign business actors, and a need for assessment of the impacts of competition itself.

“The reasons for the 1998 monetary crisis were weak economic fundamentals in Indonesia and multitude of violations of fair competition, since those that could run a business were merely those that were close to the power,” Acting Deputy for Prevention, Taufik Ahmad, added. Taufik also emphasizes that KPPU is in existence to help both the central government and regional governments in Indonesia to be free from potential violations of Law  No.5 Year 1999.

Concluding the workshop, Academic of Lampung concurrently serving as Expert Staff of the Governor of Lampung Province, Ayi Ahadiyat, hopes that in the future the government of Lampung may recognize the potentials and weaknesses existing in this Province so as to be capable of formulating strategies and policies that may be implemented for the sake of the people’s welfare, “My recommendation is KPPU may serve as a Digital KPPU wherein these fair competition regulations later on may be evenly distributed up to the grassroot level, hence, KPPU and the functions thereof can be recognized not only by the business actor but also by the general public in supporting the materialization of people’s welfare in Indonesia,” Ayi concluded.