Overview of Technical Assistance
As the importance of competition law and policy has become increasingly recognized in recent years, many overseas competition authorities have been reviewing their existing competition laws and systems and strengthening enforcement. As a result, the need for technical assistance to these jurisdictions remains high.
In response to this need, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has provided technical assistance, such as training programs, to numerous overseas competition authorities. For example, since fiscal year 1994, the JFTC has conducted 31 issue-specific training programs in Japan, currently known as the Knowledge Co-Creation Program, for officials from overseas competition authorities seeking to introduce competition laws or strengthen the enforcement of their existing competition laws. A total of 349 participants from 68 countries have taken part in these programs.
Technical Assistance under the JICA Framework
With the cooperation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the JFTC provides technical assistance to overseas competition authorities through the Knowledge Co-Creation Program and country-specific assistance, including by dispatching officials from the JFTC General Secretariat and conducting training courses.
Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Group Format)
These training programs are conducted in Japan for officials from competition authorities in countries seeking to introduce competition laws or strengthen the enforcement of their existing competition laws. Since fiscal year 1994, 31 such courses have been conducted.
The outline of the Knowledge Co-Creation Program for fiscal year 2025 is as follows.
Participants: 18 officials from 11 countries (Ghana, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam, the Maldives, Mongolia, and Montenegro)
Duration: September–October 2025 (approximately two weeks)
Venue: Tokyo and Osaka
Main Topics:
・Investigation procedures for alleged violations of the Antimonopoly Act and merger review
・Investigation and market study in digital-related cases
・Sustainability and the Antimonopoly Act (Green Guidelines)
・Competition advocacy and public relations activities
Country-Focused Program
This program is provided in response to specific requests to address country-specific challenges. To date, the JFTC has provided technical assistance to competition authorities in Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mongolia.
The outline of the ongoing program for Fiji is as follows.
Participants: Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC)
Implementation Period: April 2024 to March 2027
Main Activities: Based on the implementation plans prepared by the FCCC, the JFTC identifies its support needs and provides lectures and other activities tailored to those needs through annual on-site seminars and training programs in Japan.
[Training Course in Japan]
・Merger review
・Leniency Program
・Market study
[On-site Seminars]
・History of the Antimonopoly Act
・Importance of Competition Policy
・Public Relations Activities
Technical Assistance under JAIF
Since September 2016, the JFTC has been implementing a technical assistance project under the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), in cooperation with the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC). During Phase 1 (September 2016–August 2018) and Phase 2 (November 2019–October 2022) of this project, the JFTC organized training programs in Japan and dispatched officials from the JFTC General Secretariat, academics, and other experts to conduct on-site training and workshops in ASEAN member states（see below for details).
In Phase 3, which began in April 2023, an official from the JFTC General Secretariat participated as a speaker in an online workshop on the interface between competition authorities and health sector regulators.
Other Technical Assistance
The JFTC responds to individual requests directly received from overseas competition authorities by utilizing its own training programs, which allow for more flexible planning and implementation. To date, the JFTC has hosted training sessions for competition authorities in Kenya, South Africa, and Malaysia.
In addition, the JFTC has dispatched officials to seminars on competition law and policy in East Asia and other regions organized by international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Past Technical Assistance Activities
- Country-Focused Program Results for the Last Three Fiscal Years
| Date |
Target Country/Countries |
Format |
|---|---|---|
| April 2023 |
Thailand |
On-site Seminar |
| May 2023 |
Thailand | On-site Seminar |
| September 2023 | Thailand | On-site Seminar |
| September 2023 |
Malaysia |
On-site Seminar |
| February 2024 |
Sri Lanka |
On-site Seminar |
| February 2024 |
Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria |
Training course in Japan |
| March 2024 |
Malaysia |
On-site Seminar |
| March 2024 |
Thailand |
On-site Seminar |
| March 2024 |
Malaysia |
Online Seminar |
| Date |
Target Country |
Format |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 |
Fiji |
On-site Seminar |
| May 2024 |
Thailand | On-site Seminar |
| September 2024 | Thailand | On-site Seminar |
| September 2024 |
Malaysia |
On-site Seminar |
| January 2025 |
Fiji |
Training course in Japan |
| March 2025 |
Thailand |
On-site Seminar |
| March 2025 |
Sri Lanka |
On-site Seminar |
| Date |
Target Country |
Format |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 |
Fiji |
On-site Seminar |
| August 2025 |
Thailand | On-site Seminar |
| February 2026 | Sri Lanka | On-site Seminar |
- Results of JAIF Phase 1 and Phase 2
| Date |
Participants |
|---|---|
| January 2017 |
23 officials from competition authorities in ASEAN member states |
| December 2017 |
24 officials from competition authorities in ASEAN member states |
| March 2019 |
27 officials and others from competition authorities in ASEAN member states |
| Date |
Details |
|---|---|
| March 2017 |
On-site Workshop in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) |
| April 2017 |
On-site Workshop in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) |
| August 2017 | On-site Training in Indonesia (Bandung, Indonesia) |
| November 2017 |
On-site Workshop in Indonesia (Jakarta, Indonesia) |
| January 2018 |
On-site Workshop in Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam) |
| April 2018 | On-site Workshop in Indonesia (Surabaya, Indonesia) |
| July 2018 |
On-site Training in Indonesia (Bali, Indonesia) |
| August 2018 |
On-site Workshop in Singapore (Singapore) |
| September 2019 | On-site Workshop in the Philippines (Manila, Philippines) |
