OREANDA-NEWS.  February 20, 2014. The Government of the Kirov region and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) signed an Agreement on Cooperation. On behalf of the Kirov region, the Agreement was signed by the Interim Governor of the Kirov region, Nikita Belykh, on behalf of FAS – Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, Andrey Tsyganov. The purpose of the Agreement is to jointly exercise measures towards protecting competition, create conditions for efficient market performance, implementing the national competition development policy.

According to the Interim Governor of the Kirov region, Nikita Belykh, the Agreement provides for, in particular, including representatives of the Antimonopoly Service in various Working Groups and Councils formed by the regional Government.

At the working meeting, the parties discussed pressing issues that require closer cooperation between FAS and the regional Government: preventing unfair competition on food products markets, particularly, counterfeit food products; facilitating adoption of the federal law on private-public partnership; increasing legitimacy and removing contradictions in the law on regulating facilities of communal infrastructure in state and municipal property.

Participants pointed out the work in this area takes place at the regional level in close cooperation between the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Kirov Region (Kirov OFAS Russia) and local authorities. The Agreement between FAS and the regional Government shall facilitate such cooperation.

“FAS is prepared for more efficient cooperation with the regions, we are perfectly aware of the “sore points” where our assistance, our involvement can help avoid violations of the law. Also FAS cooperation with the subjects of the Russian Federation is individually tailored, based on the industry specifics”, summed up Deputy Head of FAS, Andrey Tsyganov.