South Africa's Competition Commission has signed separate memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Russia and Kenya to work together on issues of common ground.

The commission will work with Russia, particularly in the fields of the pharmaceutical and automotive sectors.

A Russian and South African delegation will this week discuss common issues relating to cartels in the automotive sector.

“This is very symbolic and important for us. South Africa shares many similarities with Russia. Our economies are similar. Our cases are similar. We are looking forward to working together on certain cases,” said Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia deputy head Andrey Tsarikovskiy.

Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said  the relationship with Russia was very important to South Africa, as a fellow member of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa grouping. 

The commission has also signed an MoU with the Competition Authority of Kenya. The two entities will work together on research and skills and cooperate on ending cartel activity.

Bonakele said the South African and Kenyan competition agencies were the two most active on the continent. He looked forward to engaging more with the Kenyan agency on cartel enforcement and regulation.

Competition Authority of Kenya director general Francis Kariuki said the two entities were also keen to work together to remove barriers to trade. 

“We have regional economic communities and regional trade. There are some infractions in South Africa which are affecting Kenya and vice versa. We want to join hands to do market enquiries and do research. This will inform our governments when they come up with policies.”

He said Kenya would also work with South Africa on cross-border cartels which were squeezing competition.

“With some of the major players in some sectors where cartels have been busted in South Africa, you see the same names in Kenya. We want to exchange information in this regard.”

The MoUs were signed during the tenth Annual Competition Law, Economics and Policy Conference, in Cape Town.