SINGAPORE Law and Practice Contributed by: Lim Chong Kin and Corinne Chew, Drew & Napier LLC
addition to fostering closer co-operation between participating agencies through dialogue to bet - ter understand each other’s processes. Given the recent introduction of the Framework, the Framework has not been tested or utilised in any of the Commission’s investigations or enforce - ment cases as yet. The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition Singapore was also involved in the 54th ASE - AN Economic Ministers Meeting in September 2022, where negotiations for the ASEAN Frame - work Agreement on Competition (AFAC) were launched. The final round of negotiations for the AFAC concluded in June 2024. The AFAC serves as a formal co-operation agreement that will facilitate cross-border co-operation and co- ordination on competition policy and law matters among the ASEAN member states. ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blue - print acknowledges the importance of competi - tion policy and law (CPL) in promoting economic development and integration. Under the AEC Blueprint 2025, ASEAN Member States (AMS) aim to provide a level playing field for all firms and foster a culture of fair business competition for enhanced regional economic performance in the long run. An ASEAN Competition Action Plan for 2016 to 2025 (ACAP) has been developed based on the AEC Blueprint 2025, with the fol - lowing five strategic goals: • effective competition regimes are established in all AMS; • the capacities of competition-related agen - cies in AMS are strengthened to effectively implement CPL; • regional co-operation arrangements on CPL are in place;
• fostering a competition-aware ASEAN region; and • moving towards greater harmonisation of competition policy and law in ASEAN. The ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC) is an official body comprising repre - sentatives from the competition authorities and agencies responsible for CPL in ASEAN Mem - ber States. The AEGC oversees co-operation activities relating to CPL in ASEAN as well as the implementation of measures under the AEC Blueprint. Singapore is represented by the Com - mission at the AEGC and actively contributes to the various initiatives and activities at the AEGC. 1.8 Enforcement Priorities The Commission maintains a register of notifi - cations on and investigations into anti-compet - itive agreements on its website, and also issues media releases for proposed infringement deci - sions and infringement decisions. Of the recent cases, most were in relation to bid rigging. Recent cartel cases include the following. • On 5 September 2024, the Commission, for the first time, took enforcement action against companies that were formed for the purposes of facilitating bid-rigging conduct and issued an infringement decision against an undertak - ing in his individual capacity. • On 25 October 2024, the Commission issued a proposed infringement decision against two construction companies for rigging bids in public sector tenders. As of 12 April 2025, the investigation is still ongoing. • On 25 November 2024, the Commission issued a proposed infringement decision against two remittance service providers for unlawful exchange of price information. As of
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