ASEAN Member States (AMSs) have committed in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint to endeavour to introduce national competition policy and law (CPL) by 2015. This is to ensure a level playing field and to foster a culture of fair business competition for enhanced regional economic performance in the long run.

In August 2007, the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) endorsed the establishment of the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC) as a regional forum to discuss and cooperate on competition policy and law (CPL). In the run-up to the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, the AEGC has set its work towards four priority areas:

1. Strengthening the regulatory environment in ASEAN;
2. Institutional capacity building and law enforcement of CPL in ASEAN;
3. Developing a strategy and tools for regional competition advocacy; and
4. Building cross-cutting regional initiatives.

Until the end of 2015, AMS have made remarkable progress in fostering a competition culture in ASEAN. 9 out of 10 AMS have enacted a national competition law to address anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance as well as anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.

Moreover, the AEGC has also facilitated numerous workshops, trainings and seminars to strengthen the capacities of competition-related agencies in the areas of institutional building, law enforcement and advocacy. To guide the drafting and implementation of competition laws in AMS, ASEAN has developed Regional Guidelines on CPL, a Handbook for Business and other publications.

Moving forward, the AEGC will continue to ensure a level playing field and foster a culture of fair business competition, for enhanced regional economic performance in the long run.