The Ministry of Commerce and the Council of Jurists have finalised a draft sub-decree on competition, to prevent anti-competitive behaviour and enhance the competitiveness of the Cambodian economy, and are preparing to send the document to an inter-ministerial team for further discussion before submission to Prime Minister Hun Sen to sign into law.

The sub-decree was made to ensure the effective implementation of the Law on Competition, which was enacted into law by Royal Code No 1021/013, dated October 5, signed by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Ministry secretary of state Mao Thora told The Post on November 16 that the sub-decree has been reviewed by the ministry and jurist council – a body tasked with legal review within the Council of Ministers – and that no major changes have been made to the previous version.

He said the sub-decree would directly outline the roles and responsibilities of relevant government institutions.

Thora could not provide a concrete date for when the council would convene the inter-ministerial meeting, noting that the Kingdom celebrates the Water Festival at the weekend.

Known locally as Bon Om Touk, the Water Festival falls from November 18-20 this year, the second day of which marks the second full moon after the end of the Pchum Ben observance.

The ministry said in an October 18 statement that the law is consistent with the competition policy initiatives of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025, and that its adoption is an obligation under the 10-nation bloc and the World Trade Organisation.

The law aims to create a level playing field for doing business in Cambodia that ensures that consumers receive high quality products and services at low prices, boosts the economy and drives innovation, it said.

Comprising seven chapters and 41 articles, the law covers “three pillars”: anti-competitive agreements; abuse of dominant market position; and anti-competitive business combinations that have effects within Cambodian markets as outlined in Chapter 3.

The law applies to all persons conducting business activities – or any actions supporting them – which considerably distort, restrict or prevent competition in the Cambodian market, regardless of whether the activities take place inside or outside the Kingdom’s territory.