UNCTAD and ECLAC have joined forces in responding to the COVID19 crisis by holding a regional dialogue on the role of Competition Policy in supporting the economic recovery of MSMEs post COVID-19.
During the regional dialogue, participants will discuss on the following topics:
1. Policies to support MSMEs in the pandemic and economic recovery in Latin American countries and the dimension of competition policy.
2. Discussion of national reports on Brazil and Mexico on the Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs and the role of competition policy.
3. Debate with government representatives on promoting MSMEs and competition authorities from the Latin American and Caribbean region.
11:00-11:15 Opening remarks
• Teresa Moreira, Officer in Charge, International Trade and Commodities Division and Head of the Competition Policy and Consumer Protection Section, UNCTAD.
• Giovanni Stumpo, Officer in Charge, Productive and Business Development Division, ECLAC
• President of SEBRAE, Brazil
11:15 – 12.00: Panel 1.- Presentations of the situation in Latin America in SME policies and competition policies
Moderator: Carlos Herique Fialho Mussi, Director of the Brasilia Office of ECLAC
• Policies to support MSMEs in the pandemic and economic recovery in nine Latin American countries and the dimension of competition policy: Marco Dini and Georgina Núñez, Productive and Business Development Division, ECLAC
• Presentation of the conclusions and recommendations of the national studies:
1) Brazil, Fenando by Magalhaes Furlan
2) Mexico, Ignacio Navarro
12:00-13:15 Panel 2.- Debate with the representatives of the countries of the region
Moderator: Pierre Horna Legal Affairs Officer, Competition and Consumer Policy Branch, UNCTAD
Organizations in charge of promoting MSMEs
• Sandra Gisella Acero, Mipyme director, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia
• Guillemo Merediz, secretary for Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurs, Ministry of Productive Development of Argentina
• Arturo Arango, Deputy Director of the Authority of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (AMPYME) of Panama
Competition Authorities
• Gerardo Henriquez, Superintendent, Competition Superintendent of El Salvador
• Troy Waterman PHP, PMP, Director, Fair Competition Division (Ag) Fair Trading Commission, Barbados
• Enrique Vergara, President Tribunal for the Defense of Free Competition Chile
13:15-13:45.- Panel 3. Training strategy for Phase III
Moderator: Juan Luis Crucelegui, UNCTAD
• Pierre Horna (UNCTAD) and Georgina Núñez (ECLAC) present the activity proposal
• Discussion with the participants
13-45.- Final comments and closure
This regional dialogue will be held virtually via Zoom with simultaneous interpretation in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
