Protecting consumers and curbing anti-competitive practices are central to economic development

Leading experts will gather in Geneva on 9–13 July to consider the development dimension of topical matters in the fields of consumer protection and competition law and policy.

“Businesses up their game and citizens see their welfare increase when governments strengthen consumers’ rights, leading to better products and services in the marketplace and increased overall competitiveness,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said.

“There is a clear link between better consumer rights and the goals that governments set in 2015 with their endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

9–10 July: Consumer Protection Law and Policy
• Consumer protection in financial services
• Consumer dispute resolution and redress
• Consumer product safety

The keynote speaker, vice chancellor of Nilai University Sothi Rachagan, will address the contribution of consumer protection to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (9 July, 11–11:30).

Other speakers include: Torquato Lorena Jardim, Minister of Justice, Brazil; Gerd Billen, State Secretary for Consumer Protection, Germany; Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public, India; Maria Lúcia Leitão, Head, Banking Conduct Supervision Department, Bank of Portugal; Hanne Melin, Director and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Global Public Policy, eBay; Brigitte Acoca, Consumer Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; Claudia Politanski, Vice‐President, Itaú Unibanco, Brazil; and others.

Sessions include the presentation of the voluntary peer review of consumer protection law and policy of the Kingdom of Morocco (9 July, 15:30-16:30) with Rakiya Eddarhem, Secretary of State to Morocco’s Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy.

11–13 July: Competition Law and Policy
• Competition issue in the sale of audio-visual rights for major sporting events
• Challenges faced by developing countries in competition and regulation in the maritime transport sector

The keynote speaker, New York University Law School trade regulation professor Eleanor Fox, will address the contribution of competition policy to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (11 July, 15–15:30).

Other speakers include: Anna Chanduvi, Football Business Academy professor and sports media expert; Javier Tebas Medrano, president of Liga de Fútbol Profesional of Spain; Robert K. Magovern, Legal Counsel to the World Shipping Council; and many others.

On 12 July, at 10:00, the voluntary peer review of the competition law and policy of Botswana will be presented to a delegation headed by Bogolo Kenewendo, Botswana’s Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry. The minister will also be giving a press conference on Botswana’s business and investment profile at the Geneva Press Club at 16:00.