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Venue: Permanent
Secretariat of SELA
Torre Europa, 5th floor,
Andrés Bello Conference Room, Urb. Campo
Alegre
Caracas,
Bolivarian Republic
Venezuela
20 and 21 April 2009
Objectives |
Agenda
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Participants |
Registration Form |
Documentation
Participants
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Organizers
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Venue and Date
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Hotels
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Official
Foreign Exchange Rate
Languages
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Transport
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Migration Information
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Contacts
Objectives
The objectives
of the Regional Seminar are: a) To analyze the
rationale in favour of a possible regional framework for competition adapted to
the current situation of trade and the international financial crisis from the
perspective of development; b) To promote capacity building in the areas of
competition policies and legislations, and technical assistance; and c) To
review the bases for the preparation of a work agenda on Trade and Competition
with a Latin American and Caribbean scope, under the auspices of UNCTAD and
SELA.
In this
connection, in Caracas, UNCTAD and SELA join efforts on the basis of the
activities being carried out to support the countries of the Latin American and
Caribbean region, concentrating on national priorities, therefore
strengthening the activities of SELA on Coordination and Convergence and
Treatment of Asymmetries in Latin American and Caribbean integration. Within the
framework of the UNCTAD COMPAL Programme, work is also carried out on
“Competition Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements”, in addition to promoting
the exchange of experiences and cooperation among the countries of the region.
This Seminar is intended to strengthen the dialogue among those in charge of
Latin American and Caribbean trade and competition policy, with a view to
outlining a specific Agenda for the region on Trade and Competition.
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Agenda
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Monday, 20 april 2009
Morning Session
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8:30 |
REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION
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9:00 – 9:45 |
OPENING SESSION
Torre Europa, 5th Floor, Simón Bolívar Conference Room
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Speech by His Excellency
Armin Ritz,
Ambassador of Switzerland in Venezuela.
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Speech by the Vice-Minister of Domestic Trade, of the People’s
Ministry for Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His
Excellency Rosauro Antonio León Salazar.
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Speech by the Chairman of the Latin American Council
of SELA,
His Excellency
Gerónimo Cardozo, Ambassador of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay.
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Speech by the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and
Caribbean Economic System (SELA),
Ambassador José Rivera Banuet.
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Speech by the Secretary-General
of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi.
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9:45 – 10:30 |
Coffee break
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SESSION I
TRADE AND COMPETITION ISSUES: THE PERSPECTIVE OF EXPERTS IN TRADE
MODERATOR: UNCTAD
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10:30 – 11:00 |
General introduction to the Regional Seminar
Mr. Hassan Qaqaya, Chief, Competition and Consumer Protection Section,
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Introduction to the issues of competition from the perspective of trade.
Marcos Ávalos, UNCTAD Consultant
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11:30 – 12:30 |
PANELLISTS: Representatives in charge of trade issues.
Remarks: UNCTAD
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12:30 –1:00 |
General Discussion
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1:00 – 2:30 |
Free time for lunch
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Afternoon Session
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SESSION II: TRADE AND COMPETITION ISSUES: THE PERSPECTIVE OF EXPERTS IN
COMPETITION
MODERATOR: UNCTAD
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2:30 – 3:00 |
Presentation of the topic from the competition authorities’ viewpoint
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3:00 – 4:00 |
PANELLISTS: Competition authorities of participating countries.
Remarks: Pierre Horna, UNCTAD
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4:00 – 4:30 |
General Discussion |
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TRADE AND COMPETITION ISSUES: INTERACTION BETWEEN TRADE AND COMPETITION:
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION |
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4:30 – 4:45 |
Introductory note
Marcos Ávalos, UNCTAD Consultant
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4:45 – 5:45 |
PANELLISTS: Representatives of participating countries
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5:45 – 6:00 |
General Discussion
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Morning Session
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SESSION III:
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION:
Regional and subregional responses
MODERATOR: UNCTAD |
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8:30 – 9:30 |
PANELLISTS:
Perspectives about regional integration schemes.
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9:30 – 10:00 |
The scope for
international cooperation:
UNCTAD UN Set on Competition Policy
Speaker: Hassan Qaqaya. UNCTAD
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10:00 – 10:30 |
General Discussion
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10:30– 11:00 |
Coffee break
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MODERATOR: SELA
SESSION IV: |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Provisions on Competition in Regional Trade Agreements: Guidelines for a
future agenda in the current situation
Speaker: Ana María Álvarez, Competition and Consumer Protection Section.
UNCTAD
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11:30 – 12:00 |
Debate
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12:00 – 1:00 |
Group sessions:
Subgroups will be organized to analyze three or four topics identified
during the meeting
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1:00 – 1:30 |
Report by subgroups and general discussions during the plenary session
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1:30 – 2:00 |
Conclusions and Recommendations
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Presiding: the Permanent Secretariat of SELA
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2:00 |
CLOSING
SESSION
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Documents
Conclusions and Recommendations of the
Regional Seminar on Trade and Competition: Prospects and Future Challenges for
Latin America and the Caribbean Regional
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/CR-09
Addressing the crisis through enhanced
cooperation among Latin American and
Caribbean countries
Speech by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD),
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 5-09
The relationship between
competition,competitiveness and development
Issues note prepared by the UNCTAD Secretariat
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 6-09
Competition Law and Anti-dumping
Hassan Qaqaya, Head, Competition Law and Consumer Policies Branch, DITC UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 7-09
Conjunto de principios y normas sobre
competencia de las Naciones Unidas
UNCTAD – TD/RBP/CONF/10/Rev. 2
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 8-09
Sub-Theme 2: Key trade and development
issues and the new realities in the geography of the world economy.
Accra Accord.
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 9-09
Introducción a los temas de competencia
desde la perspectiva del comercio
Marcos Santiago Ávalos, Consultor de la UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 10-09
Competition policy and its relevance to
trade and development
Hassan Qaqaya, Head, Competition Law and Consumer Policies Branch, DITC
UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 11-09
The scope for international
cooperation:UNCTAD UN Set on competition policy
Hassan Qaqaya, Head, Competition Law and Consumer Policies Branch, DITC UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 12-09
Interacción entre el comercio y la
competencia: implicaciones para la región latinoamericana y caribeña
Marcos Santiago Ávalos, Consultor de la UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 13-09
Trade and competition: Cracking cartels to
promote economic development
Fernanda García Machado, Coordinator of Unit,Secretariat of Economic Law,
Ministry of Justice of Brazil
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 14-09
Enfoque Comercio y Competencia,
Competitividad y Desarrollo:Hacia el fortalecimiento de políticas de competencia
y protección del consumidor en apoyo a los países latinoamericanos. Programa
COMPAL
Pierre Horna LL.M., Oficial de Asuntos Legales del Programa COMPAL
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 15-09
Ponencia del Viceministro
de Economía y Planificación de Cuba, Lic. Julio Vásquez Roque
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 16-09
Ponencia de la Dra. Ana María Alvarez de la
Sección de Políticas de Competencia y Protección del
Consumidor de la UNCTAD
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 17-09
Enforcement of competition law in CARICOM:
Perspectives on challenges meeting regional and multilateral obligations
Delroy S. Beckford, Senior Legal Counsel, Fair Trading Commission, Jamaica
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 18-09
Presentación de la Lic.
Luciana Macedo, Representante de la Comisión de Promoción y Defensa de la
Competencia de Uruguay
SP/SRCCPFDALC/Di N° 19-09
Lista de participantes/List of participants
SP/SRCCPFDALC/Di N° 20-09
Lista de documentos/List
of documents
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/Di N° 21-09
Programme
SP/SRCC-PFDALC/DT N° 1-09
Participants
This
Regional Seminar is aimed at representatives of government institutions in
charge of the issues of trade, competition and consumer protection, from the 27
Member States of SELA, placing emphasis on member countries from the Technical
Assistance Programme on Competition and Consumer Protection Policies (COMPAL) of
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Delegates of
subregional integration schemes and specialists dealing with this topic are also
expected to participate.
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Documentation
Any written
studies and documents which SELA receives will be distributed among
participants, and subsequently uploaded in the Web site of the event, including
additional written texts handed out as contributions during the debates of the
Seminar.
The COMPAL Programme will provide
the following study: “Competition Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements: Problems,
prospects and implementation in the short-, medium- and long-term”, as a
continuation of the research underway.
At the end of
the Regional Seminar, the Rapporteur’s Report will be submitted along with the
proposal for a Regional Agenda on Trade and Competition stemming from the
meetings and debates, which will be published in SELA’s Web site
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Organizers
Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)
http://www.sela.org
Technical Assistance
Programme on Competition and Consumer Protection Policies
(COMPAL)
UNCTAD:
http://www.unctadxi.org/templates/Page____1484.aspx
and
http://compal.unctad.org
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Venue and Date
The “Regional Seminar on Trade and
Competition: Prospects and future challenges for Latin America and the
Caribbean” will be held in the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA
in Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on 20 and 21 April 2009.
Address: Avenida Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, Fifth
Floor, Campo Alegre, Caracas.
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Hotels
Participants
will be able to make direct reservations in whatever hotels they prefer,
indicating that they will be attending the Regional Seminar, so as to obtain
SELA’s preferential rates. In case you need additional support, kindly contact
Mrs. Cora Romero, Travel and Arrangements Official. Telephone Nos.: +58(212)
9557111 and 9557124; Fax: +58(212) 9516901 and 9515292; E-mail:
cromero@sela.org).
Following is a
list of suggested hotels in Caracas in view of their safety and proximity to the
venue of the Regional Seminar. The rates shown in the list already have a
preferential discount accordin to the agreements previously reached by SELA for
such purpose. (List
Hotel)
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Official
Foreign Exchange Rate
As of 1 January
2008, the currency redenomination process entered into force in Venezuela. Now
all the amounts presented are expressed in Strong Bolivars (Bolívares Fuertes -
Bs.F).
In the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the regime for currency control has been in
force since 2003. (See
http://www.cadivi.gob.ve/). The official exchange rate is Bs.F 2.15 per US$
1.00 (American Dollar). The Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela No. 38.272 states that as of 14 October 2005 the “Law Against Illegal
Exchange” became effective.
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Languages
The official languages to be used
at the Regional Seminar are Spanish and English. There will be simultaneous
interpretation.
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Transport
To be able to
travel from the International Airport of Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” to Caracas,
you will have to use the authorized taxi service located at the exit of
the Terminal. The vehicles are black and are identified with the company’s
logotype and with yellow doors.
This authorized
taxi service has a single rate of approximately Bs.F. 150.00 per taxi trip
(applying the official exchange rate of Bs.F. 2.15 per US$, equivalent to US$
70.00), payable in national currency (Strong Bolivars).
Coordinators of
the Regional Seminar recommend that you hire exclusively the services of
these taxi companies, for your safety. In addition, and only in case you may so
require, we will be pleased to assist you if we are informed in time, to travel
from the Airport to the Hotel. In that case please send us a message at
cromero@sela.org.
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Migration Information for
Entering Venezuela
Except for
special cases, Venezuela allows almost all nationalities to enter the country as
tourists. Nevertheless, some countries would still need visas. In these cases,
SELA could apply to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue courtesy
visas, when it is for participating in official events. This authorized visa
is issued in the Venezuelan consular offices, in the countries of origin before
travelling.
To avoid any
inconveniences, it is recommended that migration information should be consulted
through the Web site of the Venezuelan People’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or
contact the Embassies and/or Venezuelan Consulates in the countries of origin.
http://www.mre.gob.ve/metadot/index.pl?id=2871;isa=Category;op=show
In case you need
assistance, kindly contact Cora Romero, Travel Arrangements Official for SELA:
Telephone:
(+58-212) 955-7111 and +58(212) 955.71.24 / Fax: (+58-212) 951.69.01 and
(+58-212) 951.52.92. E-mail: cromero@sela.org
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Contacts
Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)
Antonio
Romero, Director of Relations for Integration and Cooperation
Carmen
Gabriela Menéndez, Coordinator of Relations with Member States.
Telephones:
+58(212)9557111 / 9557134 / 9557114; Fax: +58(212)9515292 / 9516901
Electronic
Mail: cmenendez@sela.org
y
ltroncoso@sela.org
Technical Assistance
Programme on Competition and Consumer Protection Policies (COMPAL) of UNCTAD:
Ana María
Álvarez, Economic Affairs Official, COMPAL Programme
Pierre Horna,
Programmes Official, COMPAL Programme
Telephones:
+41 229175498 and +41
229174766
Electronic
mail:
ana.maria.alvarez@unctad.org
y
Pierre.horna@unctad.org
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