Mikhail Evraev: the Ministry of Communications and FAS have jointly implemented several important systemic projects

Mikhail Evraev, Deputy Minister forCommunications of the Russian Federation, discussed cooperation with the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Ministry of Communications at the extended session of FAS Collegium on 1 March 2017.

Mikhail Evraev pointed out the Ministry and FAS jointly implemented several important projects, one of which is “escaping mobile slavery”. Today million of Russian citizens have been able to change their mobile providers and keep their telephone numbers.

Proposals have been drafted together with the Federal Antimonopoly Service on transition to a single e-auction procedure for sale of property and property rights as well as measures to eliminate collusion during such electronic auctions.  

Another key area of work concerns progressing a draft law on the “Independent Registrar” state information system. The system is already in place and is used by FAS to expose electronic bid-rigging when analyzing complaints filed by businessmen. The law is designed to formalize the rights and obligations of the parties working with the system and expand to not only to public procurement procedures but also to other spheres of legally significant information.

On 1 January 2017, a Decree on No. 223-FZ Federal Law came into effect, devised by the Ministry of Communications and FAS. It provides for 15% preferences for Russian goods, works and services. This measure is aimed at supporting Russian companies.

Mikhail Evraev also discussed in detail the work of “Russian Post” Federal State Unitary Enterprise that is subordinate to the Ministry of Communications. In particular, he spoke about a joint project of the Ministry, “Russian Post” and VTB Group to create the “Post Bank”.  

Deputy Minister forCommunications pointed out: “We expect that the Post Bank will encourage financial competition in small towns and open access to banking services in the rural area, where such services are absent. Since “Russian Post” has 42,000 branches, the Post Bank in terms of its presence in the regions with time should become the largest retail bank in Russia. Today, more than 7,000 bank windows have already been opened. We estimate that by the end of 2017 the number will be 14,000”.

The work is being done to create a public electronic postal system. Mikhail Evraev called this system a future of written correspondence. An electronic postal system is not simply delivering e-letters but a legally valid delivery with registered timing.

Mikhail Evraev also discussed implementing a state information system for the housing & utilities sector and proposals on enhancing performance of the authorities.