CCS and ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute kick-start ASEAN research collaboration

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) – Yusof Ishak Institute jointly held a symposium on e-Commerce, ASEAN economic integration and competition policy and law in Singapore on 16 March 2017.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed late last year between CCS and ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, with the aim of deepening research on ASEAN-related topics, including competition policy and law. This Symposium is the inaugural event of the research collaboration.

The Symposium gathered speakers from local and overseas universities and think-tanks in the ASEAN region, competition law practitioners, as well as representatives from competition authorities and government agencies of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Australia, Japan and Singapore. They will be providing insights into the role of e-Commerce in ASEAN economic integration, discussing its impact on competition policy and law in ASEAN countries, and also sharing how e-Commerce enabled disruptive technologies and innovations, including their impact on regulations in the region. 

CCS’s Chief Executive, Mr Toh Han Li, delivered the opening remarks alongside Mr Tan Chin Tiong, Director of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Mr Toh announced that CCS is expected to launch the e-Commerce handbook for ASEAN Member States^[1] and to hold a senior official forum in August 2017, concurrently with the CCS-SAL Competition Conference^[2]. 

The Symposium’s keynote speaker was Mr Maximilian Bittner, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Group. Mr Bittner shared the complexities of e-Commerce markets, and what businesses and governments in ASEAN countries can do to promote e-Commerce growth.

Seminar materials from the various presentations at the Symposium are available for download below:

• Keynote Address

  • by Mr. Maximilian Bittner, CEO, Lazada Group

• E-Commerce & ASEAN Economic Integration

  • by Dr. Cassey Lee and Ms. Sanchita Basu Das

• E-Commerce & ASEAN Competition Law Cooperation

  • by Professor Ang Peng Hwa

• E-Commerce & Competition Law

  • by Mr. Poh Lip Hang and Ms. Eileen Lee

• Australia Country Study

  • by Dr. Michael Schaper

• Indonesia Country Study

  • by Dr. Siwage Dharma Negaraand Dr. Yose Rizal Damuri

• Japan Country Study

  • by Mr. Masaya Sakuma

• Malaysia Country Study

  • by Ms. Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi

• Philippines Country Study

  • by Dr. Aubren Prado and Ms. Meg Reganon

• Singapore Country Study

  • by Ms. Tanya Tang

• Thailand Country Study

  • by Dr. Yot Amornkitvikai and Ms. Jiraporn Tangpoolcharoen

• Vietnam Country Study

  • by Dr. Nguyen Van Thoan and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong Van

^[1] The regional handbook on e-Commerce is part of the ASEAN Competition Policy and Law Programme which CCS is spearheading. It aims to serve as a toolkit as ASEAN Member States seek to identify and address potential challenges on competition law enforcement relating to e-commerce.

^[2] SAL refers to the Singapore Academy of Law. The CCS-SAL Conference is CCS’s flagship event for the competition community in Singapore. Past attendees of this Conference include judges, regulators, legal practitioners, business leaders and academics from Singapore, ASEAN and Europe. CCS will be co-hosting the Conference with SAL on 24 – 25 August 2017.