VITALY KOROLEV: COMPETITION SHOULD BE A DRIVER OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY

Deputy Head of FAS stated at the Council for developing competitive environment in the Saratov region

On 9 July 2018 Deputy Head of FAS Vitaly Korolev was on a working visit to Saratov where together with Governor of the Saratov region, Valery Radaevfor developing competitive environment in the Saratov region.

Vitaly Korolev emphasized that the priorities in implementing the National Competition Development Plan are reducing violations of the antimonopoly law, particularly, developing the institution of warnings, increasing the share of public procurement of small and socially-oriented companies by two times, etc.

“The Saratov region has a great potential for developing competition, but it will not become a reality without implementing a set of interrelated measures. These measures will be determined by the objectives for improving use of all tools of economic regulation, including public procurement and tariff regulation of natural monopolies, eliminating unreasonable administrative and economic barriers”, saidVitaly Korolev.

Deputy Head of FAS also said that two years ago the Governor of the Saratov region approved 2016–2018 Action Plan that listed priority and socially important markets.

“Practice shows that national economy is competitive when its regions demonstrate sustainable and dynamic development. Providing conditions for developing competition at the levels of the subjects of the Russian Federation and municipalities is the most important of the national and regional priorities of the state policy”, pointed out Deputy Head of FAS. “It is confirmed by approving the National Competition Development Plan in December 2017 and holding a State Council that gave orders to the regional leaders to support competition”.

Methods for devising the key indicators of competition development in the region were discussed. Every region must choose at least 33 out of 41 markets. In these sectors regions will be increasing the share of private companies and reducing the public sector. Regional authorities may choose additional markets where they will be develop competition. Such positive measures will be definitely underlined in a report to the President of Russia.

The Council for developing competitive environment in the Saratov region also discussed a report of Head of Saratov OFAS Lyudmila Borisova.She pointed out that in terms of tariff policy Saratov OFAS constantly interacts with the regional tariff regulator: more cooperation leads to m better understanding; at the same time more questions emerge that can be solved through joint efforts.

“Here we have room for interaction in the interests of consumers as well as regulated organizations”, emphasized Lyudmila Borisova.

She stressed the importance of joint efforts of the Regional Government and Saratov OFAS to pursue 2018-2020 National Competition Development Plan in the region.

Vitaly Korolev and Valery Radaevsigned an Agreement on Cooperation between FAS and the Saratov region.

During the working visit Deputy Head of FAS also had a meeting with the staff of Saratov OFAS. He outlined FAS priorities for the near future and informed about current enrollment in the Master’s Programme at FAS Base Department at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and invited interested personnel to apply. Vitaly Korolev also answered questions from journalists during a press-scrum.