Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Authority Director General Merkebu Zeleke (Photo Authority)
Strengthening consumer bargaining power and securing fair trade practices would help ensure acceptable trade practices and competition.
Speaking at a recent biannual performance evaluation, Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Authority Director General Merkebu Zeleke said the Authority had been working to address bottlenecks in the trade system and raise consumer bargaining power.
The trade system had been hampered by unfair and illegal practices, he said, adding it withstood challenges working jointly with ministry of trade and pertinent custom offices as well as the federal police.
Merkebu indicated: “We are working in full swing to protect the business community from anti-competitive and unfair market practices, and consumers from misleading market conduct.”
For him, one approach towards this end is providing reliable information. According to the director, his office collects information, from manufacturers and importers, and disseminates to customers using various channels.
Also of high interest in his speech was basic consumer goods. In this regard, Merkebu cited that the government has been subsidizing basic consumer goods. “Consumer Associations and Consumer Unions should make sure that these items are not abused.”
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