ROAD MAPS TO SUPPORT COMPETITION DEVELOPMENT ARE MAINSTREAMED IN ALL SUBJECTS

The President of the Russian Federation gave instructions to mainstream all regional Action Plans towards competition development in April 2018 due to adopting a new edition of the Competition Development Standard in the subjects of the Russian Federation [1].

The first stage of this work was to compile a list of markets by regions and determine the key indicators of developing competition on the selected markets that regions approved at the end of 2018.

The next step was devising new 2019-2022 regional Road Maps towards competition development by regional authorities in collaboration with FAS and its regional Offices.

So far, all 85 subjects of the Russian Federation approved their Action Plans.

The Action Plans comprise systemic measures for improving competitive environment in regions, particularly, support to small business, refinement of procurement, public property management, simplifying access to financial resources as well as measures aimed at achieving the key targets in order to increase the share of private companies on the markets selected by regions.

All regional Road Maps were analyzed by FAS ad its regional offices in terms of conformance with the Competition Development Standard and the impact upon competition development in the subjects of the Russian Federation.

The approved Road Maps will be executed by regions throughout the next two years, all key sectoral bodies will be engaged.

As pointed out by Head of FAS Legal Department, Artem Molchanov, amid new economic challenges faced by Russia, particularly, as a result of adverse effects of the pandemic consequences, executing the measures specified in the Action Plans will form the basis for expanding market entry for business  and developing fair competition. It will facilitate stabilization of the Russian economy, support national security and increase consumer satisfaction through expanded assortment of goods, works, services, improvement of their quality and price reduction.

[1] The list of orders given following the meeting of the State Council on developing competition, approved by the President of the Russian Federation on 15 May 2018 № Pr-817-GS, Sub-Clause “B” Clause 2