No. 6/2017 NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS COMMISSION Cap.14:36 and size of industry, technology gaps and skills, and infrastructure and modernisation needs; (f) review all price changes by the Government, statutory corporations and local authorities when charging or levying user fees, rates, penalties and fines payable by the public and clients; (g) undertake research and maintain a comprehensive nationwide statistical database to be used in the analysis of competitiveness across all sectors of the economy; (h) develop periodic competitiveness framevvorks and strategies; (i) provide a platform for dialogue between the public and private sector, labour, academia and non-State actors on the subject of competitiveness; G) build awareness and advocacy on matters related to competitiveness; (k) produce an annual benchmarking report on national competitiveness to be called the National Competitiveness Report; (I) perform any other function that may be conferred or imposed upon the Commission by this Act or any other enactment. (2) Subject to this Act, for the better exercise of its functions, the Commission shall have power to do or cause to be done, either by itself or through its agents, all or any of the things specified in the Second Schedule, either absolutely or conditionally and either solely or jointly with others. 7 Policy directions (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may give the Commission such general directions relating to the policy the Commission is to observe in the exercise of its functions as the Minister considers to be necessary in the national interest. (2) Before giving the Commission a direction in terms of subsection (1), the Minister shall inform the Commission, in writing, ofthe direction and the Commission shall, within thirty days or such further period as the Minister may allow, submit to the Minister, in writing, its views on the proposal. (3) The Commission shall take all necessary steps to comply with any direction given to it in terms of subsection (1). (4) When any direction has been given to the Commission in terms of subsection (1 ), the Commission shall ensure that the direction and any views that the Commission has on it in terms of subsection (2) are set out in the Commission's annual report. 8 Execution of contracts and instruments by Commission An agreement, contract or instrument approved by the Commission may be entered into or executed on the Commission's behalf by any person generally or specifically authorised by the Commission for that purpose. 9 Reports of Commission ( 1) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the Commission shall prepare and submit to the Minister a report on all its activities during the previous financial year. (2) In addition to the report referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall submit to the Minister such other reports as the Minister may require. (3) The Minister shall table the report referred to in subsection (I) before Parliament. 116