DOHA: Qatar and Saudi Arabia recently held their first annual meeting to explore enhancing cooperation in the realm of competition. Hosted in Doha, the meeting brought together representatives from Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Competition. According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting was chaired by Hassan bin Sultan Al Ghanim, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Obaid, Deputy CEO for Legal Affairs at the General Authority for Competition. The primary focus was on reviewing the mechanisms for implementing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two nations. This MoU is the first of its kind in the region, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and launch projects aligned with the economic goals of both countries for 2030. The discussions centered on executing the MoU's executive program, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the experiences of both sides in enforcing competition-related laws, combating monopolies, and raising awareness of compliance. The role of the private sector was highlighted as crucial in understanding and adhering to current legislation, maintaining high rankings in the effectiveness of competition protection. The meeting also addressed enhancing bilateral cooperation through joint training courses and workshops to develop national capacities. Presentations showcased the impact of competition authority interventions on various economic sectors and consumers in both countries. Attended by officials and experts in competition protection, the meeting concluded with the establishment of a joint working team to oversee the implementation of agreed initiatives and projects, with a recommendation to initiate joint training and workshops for capacity building.