The State of Qatar has participated in the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection, held at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The event gathered ministers, heads of competition, consumer protection authorities, and senior officials from around the world to discuss how fair, transparent and inclusive markets play a crucial role in driving sustainable development, consumer protection and economic growth.
Hassan bin Sultan Al Ghanim, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led the Qatari delegation at the UN conference.
Held under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the conference explored policies and practices related to competition and consumer protection at national and international levels, in addition to evaluating the implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection and the United Nations Set of Principles on Competition.
Many emerging issues were highlighted, most notably consumer protection in the fields of AI and the circular economy, as well as competition in global food value chains.
The conference also reviewed the implementation of international principles and rules aimed at limiting restrictive business practices, and included an evaluation of two decades of voluntary peer reviews of competition policies and laws among countries.
Furthermore, the event discussed ways to achieve greater integration between competition and consumer protection policies, and the impact of competition laws on food value chains.
It also featured presentations of reports by informal working groups on cross-border monopolistic conglomerates, product safety, and consumer protection in eCommerce.
Qatar’s participation in the UN Conference highlights its commitment to strengthening its presence in international forums while reinforcing its dedication to supporting principles and regulations that enhance competitiveness and uphold consumer rights in line with global economic developments.
Moreover, the conference served as a thriving platform for member states to exchange views and expertise, contributing to the development of effective policies that benefit nations and people.
