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ASEAN policy makers should therefore seize the
opportunity presented by the ASEAN Economic
Communityanddevelopandenforce competitionpolicy
whichpromotes lower costs,wider choiceand improved
quality in goods and services.
• Government Advocacy and Disruptive
Innovations
One of the key themes of theConferencewas disruptive
innovations. The advent of the internet and digital
platforms has catalysed the growth of disruptive
firms and their innovative offerings to businesses and
consumers. More people are purchasing products and
services online, putting pressure on traditional “brick
andmortar” setups. For instance, the global average of
online sales as a proportion of total retail sales in 2014
was slightly under 6%and online sales inmoremature
e-commercemarkets like China and the United States
of America, account for 10%and 6.5%of the total retail
sales respectively.
CCS, with the assistance of the ICN Advocacy Working
GroupandotherICNmembers,undertookaspecialproject
on government advocacy and disruptive innovations. A
report discussing ICN members’ experiences and the
challenges they faced when advocating considerations
togovernmentalandlegislativeentitiesintheirrespective
jurisdictions with regard to disruptive innovations were
shared at the Conference. The report also suggests
learning points for ICN members looking to engage in
similar advocacy efforts. [Please refer to page 70 for
more details on the special project.]
CCS Chairman, Mr Aubeck Kam, highlighted the
challengesfacedbyregulatorsinthegrowthofdisruptive
firms and their innovative offerings to businesses and
consumers, in his welcome remarks. He said that
regulators face thedual challengeof regulatingnot only
in thepublic interest but also toensure that thebusiness
environment is not rendered unnecessarily restrictive.
In this regard, competition authorities can play an
important and constructive role, by advocating that
competition is also an important policy goal and should
not be ignored by industry regulators. For example, in
respect of third-party taxi bookingmobileapplications in
Singapore, CCSworkedcloselywith theLandTransport
Authority (“LTA”) to ensure that a balanced approach
was taken towards embracing disruptive innovations
and having the necessary regulations in place so that
competition ultimately benefits commuters and the
taxi industry as a whole.
Social Tour to Singapore Botanic Gardens
(29 April 2016)
Annual Conference Dinner at Gardens
by the Bay (27 April 2016)