Seoul: General Authority for Competition (GAC) CEO Dr. Fahad bin Ibrahim Alshathri will lead the authority’s delegation to the Seoul International Competition Forum 2025, taking place on September 3 in the Republic of Korea.
According to Saudi Press Agency, this participation reflects GAC’s efforts to highlight Saudi Arabia’s national expertise in promoting fair competition in digital markets and keeping pace with the rapid changes in the digital economy, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. In recent years, the Kingdom has seen major digital advancements, including internet penetration exceeding 99% and widespread adoption of electronic payment solutions. These developments call for advanced and flexible regulatory frameworks to ensure a competitive, efficient, and balanced market environment.
Alshathri will take part in a main panel discussion titled ‘Specific Issues in the Digital Sector: E-Commerce and OTT Services,’ during which he will review GAC’s key efforts, including addressing anti-competitive practices in the food delivery app sector, studying the impact of cross-border e-commerce on local retailers, and issuing a regulatory guide for digital markets that establishes fair rules of engagement on online platforms.
The release added that the agenda will also include a high-level bilateral meeting with the Korea Fair Trade Commission, attended by its chairman and senior officials, to discuss prospects for future cooperation, exchange strategic insights on digital market competition, and explore opportunities for joint technical studies and regulatory initiatives.
The Saudi delegation is also scheduled to participate in a specialized workshop on digital markets organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Regional Centre for Competition (Policy Support Centre) on September 4-5. On the sidelines of the workshop, a bilateral meeting with the center’s management will be held to discuss ways to enhance coordination and exchange institutional expertise.
This international participation reflects the progress the Kingdom has achieved in building a modern and competitive market environment. It also reaffirms GAC’s commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s presence in international forums and contributing to the development of regulatory policies for digital markets, consolidating the Kingdom’s position as an active global partner in competition.
