The Competition Regulatory Authority (ARC) recently denounced, in Maputo, the occurrence of anti-competitive practices in the national market.

According to the chairman of the board, Iacumba Aiuba, quoted by "Notícias", such practices consist of setting minimum profit margin with the aim of crushing others and marking uniform prices or concerted conduct (agreed prices) in the marketing of goods and services.

"Included in the list of anti-competitive practices that occur in the Mozambican market are "imposing or influencing sales prices to the end dealer; causing price fluctuations without just cause; intervening in public tenders to obtain advantages, among other practices considered harmful to free competition," he said.

The source was speaking during a seminar to disseminate the duties and powers of ARC to the private and public sectors, economic associations, professionals, academics, among others. On the occasion, Iacumba Aiuba, also explained that ARC "assumes a leading role in combating practices that harm healthy competition.

"However, for their action to be effective, society in general must denounce anti-competitive practices, since besides being harmful to commerce, they are also harmful to the final consumer," he stressed.

It should be noted that ARC is an institution under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, whose mission is to ensure the application of the rules for the promotion and protection of competition in the private and public sectors in Mozambique, with a view to increasing healthy competition in the economy, the efficient operation of markets, the optimal allocation of resources, and the promotion of innovation in the interests of consumers.