SERGEY PUZYREVSKY: MURMANSK REGIONAL AUTHORITIES PAY ATTENTION TO DEVELOPING COMPETITION

These markets are special since they directly affect the interests of the population

Private entities are getting actively involved in social services which used to be the prerogative of the public sector. Private day-care centers, medical and sport facilities, etc. are formed under intensive business support programmes. It was in the focus of a meeting between Deputy Head of FAS Sergey Puzyrevsky and Governor of the Murmansk region Andrey Chibis. During his working visit to the region, Deputy Head of FAS took part in the Council for improving the investment climate in the Murmansk region to fulfill the National Competition Development Plan.

Sergey Puzyrevsky pointed out that “determining the key competition targets, Murmansk has specially highlighted the markets of social services – education, healthcare, social support and culture. The Government of the Murmansk region focuses on them because the population is most sensitive to the conditions on them as it directly affects the local population”.

“Developing competition on socially important markets is fundamental to structure the work on improving the quality of social services”, added Deputy Head of FAS.

The meeting agenda included mainstreaming the Road Map, equal access for small and medium business to public procurement, pre-school education, construction of new day-care centers, medicinal drug provision to the population and medical facilities.

Sergey Puzyrevsky also had a meeting the staff of Murmansk OFAS to discuss enforcement of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” and judicial practice.

“Such meetings with OFAS are very valuable in terms of establishing consistent enforcement across the entire territory of Russia”, emphasized Deputy Head of FAS.

Sergey Puzyrevsky and the staff of Murmansk OFAS analyzed interaction and work with the regional authorities. At the end, Deputy Head of FAS thanked the local antimonopoly team for its efforts and wished them new achievements and success in competition support and efficient protection of entrepreneurship.