Spanish
The president of the Board of Directors of the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (ProCompetencia), María Elena Vásquez Taveras, urged the business community to approach the institution and learn about the tools available to address market distortions, unjustified barriers to trade, and practices that limit fair competition.
He affirmed that, beyond sanctions, which constitute the last resort, ProCompetencia offers concrete mechanisms that directly benefit the entrepreneur who acts in accordance with the law. He explained that, if it is suspected that a competitor engages in unfair practices such as price agreements, boycotts or abusive exclusivity, a complaint can be filed with the entity so that the Executive Directorate initiates an investigation and evaluates the evidence and market conditions.
He indicated that, when a sector faces regulations it considers unjustified or that artificially close the market, the institution can review the regulations and issue an objective and independent technical opinion.
"Our recommendations have influenced bills and regulatory resolutions that, if they had come into effect as they were designed, would have harmed companies like yours," said Vásquez Taveras when participating as a guest speaker at the monthly cocktail of the National Association of Herrera Companies and Industries.
In that scenario, the president of the business entity, Angelo Viro, stated that guaranteeing fair competition conditions allows talent, innovation, and effort to become the true drivers of business success.
He indicated that the existence of clear rules encourages investment, promotes productivity, and contributes to sustainable development. He assured that companies are not afraid to compete; what they need is to do so on a level playing field.
During his presentation, Vásquez Taveras specified that another form of action by ProCompetencia is to support companies that develop internal compliance programs, through practical guides, workshops, and technical guidance on international best practices in competition matters.
The official addressed concerns from business executives and recalled that healthy competition has a direct impact on the business climate. She explained that when markets function correctly, companies have real incentives to improve their products, reduce costs, and grow. "When they are distorted, the most harmed are not only consumers, but the entrepreneurs themselves who compete with integrity and are displaced by those who operate outside the law," she said.
He gave as an example that a company that wins a bid through a collusive agreement not only defrauds the State, but also deprives another company that acted in accordance with the rules of an opportunity.
He underlined that ProCompetencia's mission is to ensure a level playing field for large and small companies, by fostering a culture of competition, issuing technical opinions to avoid unjustified regulatory barriers and recommending the simplification of bureaucratic procedures that hinder entrepreneurship and business expansion.
He maintained that complying with competition law is not a burden, but an investment that protects reputation, assets, and the ability to operate in international markets.
As a recent example, he cited that in 2024 ProCompetencia sanctioned the first case of collusion in public procurement in the country, when two supplier companies coordinated their bids in tenders for the supply of food to the penitentiary system. He indicated that this practice generated direct damage to the State, to public finances, and to companies that competed transparently.
