The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) participated in the Türkiye–Africa Competition Authorities Istanbul Meeting, convened at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office and Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, from 29 to September 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The high‑level gathering, hosted by the Turkish Competition Authority, brought together competition institutions from across Africa and Türkiye to advance dialogue on fair markets, share enforcement experiences, and exchange case‑handling practices. The meeting served as a platform to promote best practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and tighten enforcement cooperation across jurisdictions.
Speaking during the session dedicated to African Regional Competition Organizations, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) underscored the importance of regional cooperation in addressing market distortions and promoting efficiency, fairness, and accountability across the ECOWAS Member States. The Authority highlighted its pivotal role in harmonising competition rules within West Africa and reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger partnerships with international counterparts to ensure consistent enforcement standards and resilient markets.
During the proceedings, several African competition authorities shared their experiences in successfully addressing complex cases. These interventions highlighted the importance of exchanging best practices, refining investigative approaches, and reinforcing cooperation mechanisms. The case studies presented underscored how collaborative learning and strengthened enforcement strategies can enhance the effectiveness of competition authorities across diverse jurisdictions.
The Istanbul Meeting provided a unique opportunity to deepen collaboration between Türkiye and Africa, paving the way for joint initiatives, technical cooperation, and shared enforcement strategies. ERCA expressed appreciation to the Turkish Competition Authority for convening this milestone dialogue and reiterated its readiness to work with partners in advancing competitive, transparent, and resilient markets across regions.
The meeting concluded with a declaration by the Turkish Competition Authority reaffirming its commitment to deepen partnership with African counterparts. The declaration emphasised joint efforts to advance awareness programmes, promote a culture of competition, enhance information and data sharing, and develop collaborative projects. It further underscored the importance of sustained capacity building and coordinated initiatives to strengthen enforcement and ensure more effective competition regimes across jurisdictions
