• ICN Annual Conference in Sauipe (#ICNSauipe2024) from 14 to 17 May 2024
• Plenary Sessions will also be livestreamed
• Representatives from over 80 jurisdictions

The 23rd Annual Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) is hosted by the Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) in Sauipe from 14 to 17 May 2024. Participants from more than 80 jurisdictions, including representatives and stakeholders such as the business community, legal and economic professionals, international organisations and academics are attending this year's conference.

The ICN is the most important network of competition authorities worldwide and a unique forum for the authorities to come together, exchange ideas and find joint solutions. It comprises more than 140 competition agencies.

Andreas Mundt, ICN Chair and President of the Bundeskartellamt: “Competition has a crucial role to play when it comes to solving the big challenges of our time. The ICN is meeting in Sauipe where we will discuss how best to tackle the most pressing issues we face today. Big tech and the rise of AI are becoming ever more pervasive, challenging our enforcement work. We also need to step up our advocacy efforts at all levels, especially in the areas that most affect our citizens. Quality, innovation and low prices cannot be achieved through more and more regulation, so it is crucial to send out a clear message that nothing is more effective than competition on the merits. Wealth is created through competition, not regulation.”

At the conference, participants will share experiences and engage in discussions in the plenaries and breakout sessions organised by the ICN working groups. Special sessions will be dedicated to new developments in the field of artificial intelligence as well as the topic of state-owned enterprises for which the ICN has also invited the OECD and UNCTAD to participate.

Andreas Mundt is scheduled to speak at the plenary session of the Merger Working Group discussing “Theories of harm involving innovation, nascent and potential competition” on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, 16:15-17:30 (GMT -3).

For further information on the ICN Annual Conference, please visit the conference website. The livestreams of the plenary sessions will be available here without prior registration.