OREANDA-NEWS. December 23, 2013. Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Andrey Tsyganov discussed FAS achievements and new challenges at a conference organized by Vedomosti newspaper “100 Steps to a Favorable Investment Climate” under the framework of the Round Table for “Protecting the Rights of Businessmen”.

Every year the Federal Antimonopoly Service protects thousands of entrepreneurs from arbitrariness of monopolies, executive bodies and local self-government bodies. One of the main problems of Russian economy, as stated Andrey Tsyganov, is inequality of economic life of its citizens: “On the one hand, poverty due to low demand prevents competition development. On the other hand, weak competition maintains poverty since it deprives people from a possibility to improve the quality of goods and services at the optimal prices under a wide choice”.

Deputy Head of FAS drew attention of the Round Table to such a problem as attitude to “insiders” and “outsiders” in the business environment (situations when “outsiders” cannot enter regional markets are not infrequent), as well as to a problem of inequality in protecting the rights of businessmen. Without the help of ombudsmen, non-governmental organizations of businessmen and the authorities, including FAS, not all companies can win cases at Court.

To resolve the issues, according to Andrey Tsyganov, in particular, it is necessary to ensure non-discriminatory access to the infrastructure of the holders of natural monopolies. It requires, in its centre, development of industry-specific legislation, which is one of the key areas of FAS work. According to statistical data, thanks to the undertaken work the number of antimonopoly cases has already decreased considerably.

Reduction of state sector in the economy will also help to protect the interests of businessmen. “Municipal and state enterprises formed on competitive markets are in privileged position in comparison with private companies: such enterprises obtain unreasonable benefits and advantages from the authorities and local self-government bodies. It creates unequal conditions for doing business”, emphasized Andrey Tsyganov.

The objective of reducing the number of state and municipal unitary enterprises is formalized in the Road Map for “Developing Competition and Improving the Antimonopoly Policy”.

“If last year we with other executive bodies discussed which measured should be included in the Road Map and which results we should achieve, this year all attention is focused on the quality of executing the target goals, particularly, reducing the state sector in the economy”, summed up Andrey Tsyganov.