Fiji Commerce Commission hosts Samoan delegation
The Fiji Commerce Commission (FCC) welcomed a delegation from the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour yesterday.
The delegation is visiting to study the practical operation and management systems of the FCC.
FCC’s chairperson Joann Young said the study tour was a wonderful opportunity for the Fijian and Samoan competition authorities to convene and share their experiences.
“I believe that when looking at each other’s experiences we engage in continuous mutually engaging learning process,” Ms Young said.
She used the opportunity to propose a Pacific Island Countries network of competition authorities for the workshop to consider establishing.
“This Pacific network would address the particularities of small island economies, like Fiji and Samoa, in dealing with practical competition issues,” Ms Young said. “The proposed Pacific network would be a forum for regular contacts, fostering policy dialogue and exchange of information and co-operation. Increased collaboration can lead to coordinated enforcement and sharing of information.”
Head of the Samoan delegation and the Regulator of Samoa Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the FCC.
“We are here to learn from the lessons of our counterparts in Fiji on how best we can minimise the challenges in operation of a critical instrument in regulations of competition and consumer affairs,” Ms Auelua-Fonoti said. The Fiji Commerce Commission will host the Samoan delegation during the week-long study tour culminating in a field visit on Thursday.