​The Competition Commission Brunei Darussalam (CCBD)’s Chairperson, Yang Mulia Dyg Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii has taken part in the 2nd Heads of Competition Agency Meeting held from 6 to 7 June 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. The Meeting which consisted of panel discussions, aimed to facilitate high-level dialogue between the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) partners on current issues facing competition agencies at a strategic level.

The Meeting was organised by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and is one of the series of activities under the AANZFTA Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP) Phase V. In attendance was representatives of Commissioners as well as senior staff from all 10 ASEAN competition agencies, Australia and New Zealand.

Yang Mulia Dyg Nik Hafimi shared her experiences and insights in two of the panel sessions, namely Duties of Commissioner and The Importance of Establishing an Effective Working Relationship between a Competition Agency and the Government. Other panel sessions discussed on several topics, which touched on, among others, the use of Competition and Consumer Protection Policy as a tool in addressing cost of living issues, approaches in dealing with Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), challenges  facing regulators concerning the rise of digital platforms, and balance between Competition and Sustainability.

Through the interactive exchange of knowledge and information, participants are able to enhance their learning and gain deeper understanding of one another, which will facilitate the formation of essential connections in the region, promoting cooperation, mutual assistance and advancements in international competition practice and process.

The two-day Meeting was followed by a workshop entitled  Enforcement Priority Setting Workshop, which provided workshop participants with guidance on effectively establishing priorities especially where agencies encounter resource limitations.