Situation Report on International Migration 2019

Ahmad Youness Kassem

President of the competition and Antitrust Council of Iraq

Rola Dashti

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCWA

Rebeca Grynspan

Secretary-General, the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Benoît Coeuré

Chair of the Competition Committee, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Student Challenge in Competition

Competition law enforcement plays a fundamental role in ensuring that markets remain fair, dynamic, and open to all players. It involves the application of competition laws to prevent anti-competitive practices such as cartels, monopolistic behavior, and abusive dominance, fostering an economic environment that encourages efficiency, innovation, and consumer welfare. Effective enforcement mechanisms are essential to detecting, investigating, and addressing competition infringements through legal frameworks, judicial decisions, and regulatory actions.

The Sixth Arab Competition Forum invites university students specializing in economics, business, and law to participate in the Student Challenge by submitting a research paper featuring a case study before the deadline in May 2025. The paper, written in Arabic, should explore real-world cases of competition law enforcement from the Arab region or beyond, highlighting successful instances from competition agencies, governmental bodies, or civil society that illustrate tangible outcomes of competition law enforcement. Case studies should focus on successful enforcement actions, landmark rulings, or regulatory interventions that have contributed to more competitive markets.

This initiative provides university students with an opportunity to engage in academic research in competition law enforcement, emphasizing its significance in shaping competitive markets across the Arab region. The Student Challenge within the Arab Competition Forum serves as a unique platform for students to actively contribute to the discussion on competition policy, gaining practical insights into enforcement mechanisms and their impact on economic development.

The scope of competition law enforcement focuses on key areas that ensure fair market competition and prevent anti-competitive behavior. This year, the challenge will center on one critical aspect: abuse of dominance cases, allowing for in-depth analysis of enforcement actions and their impact on markets.

Case studies can highlight how competition authorities assess cases of abuse of dominance. The research may also examine examples of exclusionary or exploitative practices that have hindered the entry of new competitors and negatively impacted consumer choices.

The research should focus on real-world enforcement actions, particularly in strategic sectors such as telecommunications, energy, pharmaceuticals, and others, where regulatory interventions have played a crucial role in shaping competitive dynamics.

Through these focused topics, students will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and significance of competition law enforcement in fostering fair and dynamic markets.

Successful students will be granted the opportunity to attend the Forum, participate in a special event on the first day, including an awards ceremony.

It is worth noting that this is the fourth edition of the Challenge after the first edition and second, and third editions which were held in the previous Arab Competition Forums.

Challenge Objectives:

Enhancing students' understanding of competition law enforcement and its practical implications.
Encouraging research and discussion on competition enforcement challenges and successes in the Arab region.
Building connections between students, researchers, competition authorities, and experts in the field.
Contributing to the development of academic and policy-oriented research on competition law enforcement, and competition policy.

Challenge Information

Paper Template

Information session

Competition resources

Submit Your Paper

Submit your paper by TBD

Fill out the form and upload your paper

Plenary and Thematic Sessions

Day one

Session 1: Mergers & Acquisitions: Challenges and Opportunities in Competition Law Enforcement

Date and time (Iraq Time – UTC+3)
Wednesday, 28 May, 11.00 a.m.–1.00 p.m.
Session coordinator: Competition and Anti-Monopoly Affairs Council (Iraq)
Format: Hybrid

Synopsis:
This session will explore the role of competition authorities in regulating and monitoring mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly cross-border transactions, and their impact on regional market structures. Discussions will highlight key challenges faced by regulatory bodies. The session will also examine opportunities to enhance regional cooperation in enforcing competition laws to prevent market concentration, promote transparency, and ensure a fair and sustainable competitive environment. The best international practices and successful regional experiences in handling M&A cases will be shared, with a focus on developing more integrated and flexible regulatory frameworks to keep pace with modern market challenges.

Moderator

Ekram Abdul Aziz, Advisor at the Competition and Antitrust Council of Iraq

Speakers

Nathalie Khaled, Coordinator of the competition, consumer protection and national planning for development projects, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA

Akari Yamamoto-Bonenfant, Legal Officer, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD

Antonio Capobianco, Deputy-Head of the Competition Division, OECD

Boniface Makongo, Competition Director, COMESA Competition Commission

Francois Souty, Executive President, Cabinet LRACG Conseil

Session II: Market Studies – Their Role in Strengthening Competition Law Enforcement in the Arab Region

Date and time (Iraq Time – UTC+3)
Wednesday, 28 May, 2.00–4.00 p.m.
Session coordinator: ESCWA
Format: Hybrid

Synopsis:
This session will focus on the role of market studies in strengthening competition law enforcement in Arab countries, particularly how they are used to analyze market dynamics and identify anti-competitive practices. Discussions will cover modern tools and methodologies that help competition authorities in assessing market structures, detecting signs of economic concentration, and improving enforcement efforts. Best practices from other countries will be examined to enhance market studies, with an emphasis on how innovation and technology can improve the accuracy of analysis and strengthen regulatory interventions, ensuring a more competitive and equitable economic environment.

Moderator

Nathalie Khaled, Coordinator of the competition, consumer protection and national planning for development projects, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA

Speakers

Teresa Moreira, Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, Division on International Trade and Commodities, UNCTAD

Said Kechida, Manager for Africa and the Middle East, Competition Division, OECD

Mohamad Cheikhrouho, General Rapporteur, Tunisian Competition Council

Kondwani Kaonga, Manager of Research and Policy, COMESA Competition Commission

Menna Mahmoud Fahmy, Competition Consultant/Economist at the Ministry of Finance, Egypt

Day two

Session III: The Standard and the Burden of Proof in Competition Law Cases

Thursday, 29 May, 9:00–11:00 (Iraq Time – UTC+3)
Session coordinator: OECD
Format: Hybrid

Synopsis:
This session will discuss the crucial importance of the rules regarding the standards and burden of proof, as well as the relationship between them. Topics will include the challenges faced by competition authorities in meeting the standard of proof in their jurisdictions, and whether the standard of proof and the related evidentiary requirements have become more stringent for competition authorities in proving anti-competitive conduct or blocking mergers. The session will also address the ongoing debate on whether the standard of proof should be modified or the burden of proof adjusted to overcome the challenges faced by competition authorities, and how to achieve the right balance between enforcement, legal certainty, and effective judicial review.

Moderator

Saïd Kechida, Manager for Africa and the Middle East, Competition Division, OECD

Speakers

Hassen Guizani, President, Competition Council, Tunisia

Hend Hassanien, Manager Legal Service and Compliance, COMESA Competition Commission

Alaa Alsubhi, Legal Studies and Services Associate, General Authority for Competition, Saudi Arabia

Amine Mansour, Case Handler, DG COMP, European Commission

Dina Waked, Professor, Sciences Po Law School

Session IV: Strengthen Competition Law Enforcement against Abuse of Dominance – Developing Legal Frameworks and Investigation Tools

Thursday, 29 May, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm (Iraq Time – UTC+3)
Session coordinator: UNCTAD
Format: Hybrid

Synopsis:
This session will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of investigations into abuse of dominance cases by developing an integrated legal framework and adopting modern mechanisms to better capture market dominance and its abuse. Discussions will highlight advanced technologies, as well as economic and legal methodologies used to assess market power and anti-competitive effects, improving investigation speed and precision and ensuring timely intervention. The session will also review best practices from around the world to strengthen enforcement actions against abuse of dominance.

Moderator

Akari Yamamoto-Bonenfant, Legal Officer, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD

Speakers

Hassan Abu Abd El Majid, Vice President, Competition Council of Morocco

Passant Youssef, Head, Bid-rigging Team, Egyptian Competition Authority

Francis Kariuki, Senior Consultant in Competition and Trade Policy, Bowmans Law Firm

Seyoung Oh, Deputy Director, Antitrust Investigation Division, Korea Fair Trade Commission

Special events

Special Session: Arab Youth in Competition

Wednesday, 28 May, 9.45–10.45 a.m. (Iraq Time – UTC+3)
Format: Open session / Broadcasted live

Synopsis:
· Participating universities in Iraq have been invited to develop case studies on competition law enforcement topics, including mergers and acquisitions, market studies, sectoral investigations, and abuse of dominance cases. This special celebratory session will feature an award ceremony honoring the winners of the Competition Challenge.