IGOR ARTEMIEV: WE CAN CREATE RUSSIAN ECONOMIC MIRACLE
In June-July 2018 FAS will held on-site meetings in all regions of Russia on implementing the National Plan and the orders given following the State Council
Head of FAS Igor Artemiev had a meeting with senior government officials from all regions of the Russian Federation on implementing the measures of the National Plan for Developing Competition in Russia and orders following the State Council on competition development. The focus was, in particular, on the mechanics of devising the key indicators of competition development in sectors (spheres) of the economy and “Road Maps” for developing competition in the subjects of the Russian Federation by the regional authorities.
“As you remember, on 21 December 2017 the President of the Russian Federation signed the Order on the “Main directions of the state policy towards developing competition”. To a considerable extent, its meaning is that under sanctions and difficulties that we have to overcome, in the economy, we must increase economic efficiency and economic growth through competition. According to the world experience, the economic miracle of Asian countries, the impressive economic growth in China would not be possible without support of small and medium, business and implementing mechanisms of demonopolization. Competition helps improve labour productivity, facilitate innovations, reduce prices and save budget”, emphasized Head of FAS, opening the meeting.
Following the State Council on competition development, that took place on 5 April 2018, several orders were given to devise systemic federal and regional documents and give a fresh start to the current projects.
As Head of FAS clarified, the Federal Antimonopoly Service submitted an integrated Road Map for developing competition to the Government that covers 19 main sectors of the economy. It will be approved in the near future.
By 1st December, each region should mainstream or draft and adopt its own Road Map for developing competition that comprises the main indicators for developing competition in this region.
According to Deputy Head of FAS Sergey Puzyrevskiy, the regional Road Maps should list measures designed to achieve No.618 Presidential Order. He said: “Regional authorities and local self-government bodies must also introduce antimonopoly compliance – a system of normative legal acts, preventing antimonopoly violations. Under the National Plan, the number of antimonopoly violations by the authorities should reduce no less than twofold by 2020. FAS will draft the documents and forward to the regions”.
By 1 January 2019 amendments should be made to the Regulations on the regional authorities to give the priority to the measures designed to develop competition.
The Competition Development Standard for Russian regions also will be getting a fresh start. Indicators reflecting the share of private companies in the sectors and areas of the regional economy will be updated.
“The indicators are voluntary-compulsory. Out of 41 indicators (markets) each region should choose at least 33 – the markets where the region will increase the share of private companies and reduce the state sector’s share. A region can choose additional indicators (markets), the level of executing the indicators and do not stop on the achieved targets, which will be marked in a report to the President”, explained Igor Artemiev.
Executing the presidential orders, the Antimonopoly Service has devised 41 guidelines for calculating the key indicators of competition development in the regions and drafted a standard Action Plan (“Road Map”) to support competition development in a region.
“Each my Deputy and myself will supervise several regions. We are prepared to give you ongoing consultations and all necessary support required to implement the Presidential order. Such support certainly will also be offered by FAS regional Offices – some kind of “field headquarters”. Furthermore, in June-July 2018 we plan to hold on-site meetings in all regions of Russia”, informed Head of FAS.
The antimonopoly authority is considering to organize special training programmes for the RF subjects in its Centre for Education and Methodics in Kazan, when the best solutions can be worked out to fulfill the objectives. Also, FAS has opened 56 Department in universities all over Russia: they can offer methodological assistance to the regions.
“The President of Russia made it clear that competition will be given special attention in the government policy. If we take these objectives, this work seriously, we can create Russian economic miracle”, concludedIgor Artemiev.
Representatives of more than 70 regions of the Russian Federation took part in the event.