OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2008. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) will form the Working Group to monitor the cement market and devise proposals for stabilizing cement prices, in view of increasing supplies of imported cement, including proposals for improving the customs tariff policy, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The decision was made as the outcome of the session of the Expert Council for Developing Competition in Construction and Construction Materials Industry.

At the session, Andrey Tsyganov, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, reported on the amendments to the current legislative and normative acts, aimed at increasing efficiency of antimonopoly regulation.

Taking about the "second antimonopoly package", Andrey Tsyganov described the changes to be introduced to the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

Andrey Tsyganov also reported on the new FAS Russia's terms of reference for control over foreign investments in the Russian federation.

Andrey Pushkarev, the First Deputy of the General Director of "Vostokcement" Ltd., gave the presentation "On Providing Construction Materials to the Far East Federal District in Preparation of the APEC-2012 Summit".

Representative of "Vostokcement" Ltd. said that due to the financial crisis and increased import of cement to Russia, the company was forced to freeze the project for building the cement plant in Teploe Ozeto hamlet, the Jewish Autonomous District.

Mr. Pushkarev added that the company's development is impossible without state participation in terms of supporting investment projects and regulation prices of natural monopolies.

Mikhail Skorokhod, the President of "EUROCEMENT Group" CJSC, gave the presentation "On the Impact of the Customs Tariff Policy upon the Domestic Cement Market".

"Sine the beginning of 2008, after the import duties were lifted, Russia has imported 6.7 million tons of cement and more than 500 000 tons of clinker - the raw material for producing cement", said the Head of "EUROCEMENT Group" CJSC.

He stated that cement importers announced that in the near future they would be able to import 40 - 70 tons of foreign-made cement to Russia.

The session of the Expert Council for Developing Competition in Construction and Construction Materials Industry expressed concern over decreasing cement production.

Having heard and discussed the reports, the session made a decision to form, by 1st December 2008, the Working Group to monitor the cement market and devise proposals for stabilizing cement prices, in view of increasing supplies of imported cement, including proposals for improving the customs tariff policy.