ANATOLY GOLOMOLZIN ABOUT WORKING PROSPECTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KURSK REGION
Deputy Head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin discussed intermediary results of the National Competition Development Plan during a working meeting with Governor of the Kursk region Roman Starovoitov
During the working visit Deputy Head of FAS chaired a meeting on mainstreaming the Road Map for advancing competition in the region.
FAS signed an Agreement on Cooperation with the Government of the Kursk region in July 2018.
“In general the Kursk region demonstrates good economic results. According to a survey of the Expert Rating Agency, published in December 2018, the investment potential of the Kursk region is on the 37th position among the regions of Russia, and on the 9th – in terms of investment risk”, informed Anatoly Golomolzin.
He added that “the work on the Road Map ensures execution of the necessary measures. Amendments are made to the Regulations on executive bodies of the Russian Federation giving the priority to the goals and objectives towards competition development; an in-house system for conformity to the antimonopoly law is implemented. In their efforts, local self-government bodies also give the priority to the goals and objectives of developing competition on the markets. The key indicators for developing competition in 2019-2022 are set and agreed upon with FAS on 33 markets within the designated period”.
Commenting development of the regional economy and competition under the frame of the National Plan, Deputy Head of FAS stated that by 2020 the Kursk region must reach 4 control targets:
“The Kursk region must make sure that all segments of the economy, except natural monopolies, should have at least 3 economic entities, one of which should be a private company; at least halve antimonopoly violations committed by the authorities and local self-government bodies; double the share of public procurement involving only small and medium business and socially-oriented non-profit organizations, as well as increase the share of procurement by particular types of legal entitles from small and medium companies (to 18%)”.
Then Anatoly Golomolzindrew attention to the importance of intensifying the work on refining a draft Road Map in view of all parameters in order to approve it by December 2019. Deputy Head of FAS pointed out that it is necessary to focus on solving the most important social-and-economic tasks. Kursk residents emphasize lack of sufficient entities on the markets of services for psychological-and-pedagogical support of disabled children and the problems associated with absence of the market of tourist services.
“In view of the consumer demand, it is necessary to consider whether additional markets can be included in the Road Map. It is worth mentioning that the share of private business on the market of medical services in the Kursk region has already reached 9.5 %. The targets set by the antimonopoly body are around 10%; it means that the region is moving in the right direction. One more step remains to enable high-technology private business and state organizations collaborate to provide due-quality services”, underlined Anatoly Golomolzin.
Deputy Head of FAS Legal Department said that in 2018 antimonopoly violations committed by the authorities and local self-government bodies in the Kursk region had increased so preventative work to deter such violations should intensify. The Kursk region has all conditions to accomplish it, for instance, acts on antimonopoly compliance are adopted.
She continued that “now efficient execution of all measures specified as part of antimonopoly compliance must be ensured, avoiding formal attitude to such work”.
As a result of the meeting, FAS and the Government of the Kursk region agreed to conduct joint educational workshops and meetings with regional and municipal bodies. Such events help implement and fulfill antimonopoly compliance and prevent violations by the authorities of the antimonopoly law as well as the law on procurement.
Deputy Head of FAS discussed the front for forthcoming work on different areas of competition development in the Kursk region with the meeting participants. In particular, they specially considered a possibility to sign a regulatory contract between FAS, top regional officials and gas suppliers.
“We agreed to sign an agreement with the Governor of the Kursk region and Gazprom top executives in the near future to specify the directions of a long-term tariff policy and decisions on gasification and new projects, including projects on transition to new types of motor fuel using liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas, and developing the gas-to-chemicals sector. It will serve as new clusters to develop the regional economy”, explained Deputy Head of FAS.
As the most important prospective collaboration areas, the participants discussed the importance of joint efforts to shape commercial infrastructure of the modern agriculture.
“It relates, for example, to developing production of soya and products of soya processing. Modern methods of trade should be used. We shall intensify collaboration in the part of exchange trade in this sector”, mentioned Anatoly Golomolzin.
Deputy Head of FAS described FAS participation in executing the National Projects. He stated that 12 National Projects, including a package of social-and economic measures in various sectors, are being executed to fulfill the “May” orders of the President of Russia.
“The task is to make sure that the Competition Road Map becomes another point of growth along with the National Projects. Our work should be built up in such a way that the National Projects, executed in line with the Presidential order, are integrated with the Road Map for competition development. In particular, it is essential to competently spend budgetary funds in the optimal way. The National Projects also should serve as the point of growth for the regional economy. There are good prospects for collaboration”, concluded Anatoly Golomolzin.
During his working visit to the Kursk region, Anatoly Golomolzin had a task meeting with the team of Kursk OFAS.