MAXIM OVCHINNIKOV: MANY COMPETITION DEVELOPMENT TARGETS ARE ALREADY REACHED IN THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION

Agreement is signed with the region aimed at protecting competition, creating conditions for efficient market performance and pursuing the state policy towards developing competition in the region

Deputy Head of FAS Maxim Ovchinnikov held consultations with top officials of the Jewish Autonomous Region on implementing the National Competition Development Plan and the orders of the President of Russia issued following the State Council.

“FAS Central Office and regional Offices will offer every support to the region. We will give methodological guidance and help collecting information about the progress in competition support. In this connection you should highlights the range of issues that you cannot fully influence, for example, non-discriminatory access to the infrastructure of natural monopolies and the strategy of large state –run companies in the region. We will retranslate the exposed problems to the Government of Russia”, explained Maxim Ovchinnikov.

He specially emphasized the importance of feedback from the regional authorities for more efficient joint work on the objectives set by the National Competition Development Plan and the orders issued upon the State Council.

Devising a Road Map for competition development, the regions must select at least 33 markets of 41. In these sectors of the economy the region will be reducing the share of the state and increase the share of private companies by 2022.

Maxim Ovchinnikov pointed out that the region has already reached many targets.

It should be noted, however, that if the actual value exceeds the minimum value the key indicators may be determined higher than the actual level and the region will have to show positive dynamics.

Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Jewish Autonomous Region, Nikolai Kandelya said that the region is actively developing the practice of concession agreement. This, tool, in particularly, is used in the housing-and-utility sector.

According to Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government, such agreements will facilitate the growth of private sector on the markets.