OREANDA-NEWS. April 1, 2010. On 23-24 March 2010, Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Anatoly Golomolzin and the Head of the Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Teimuraz Kharitonashvili, took part in the conference/ workshop: "The Programme for Development of Competition and the Regional Strategy of Economic Growth. The Tasks of the Authorities and Local Self-Government Bodies for Implementing the Programme".

The conference/seminar was organized by the Voronezh OFAS Russia and by the Government of the Voronezh region. Representatives of the regional offices of federal executive bodies, the Department for Development of Competition of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, various Departments of the Government of the Voronezh region, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Voronezh region, the Voronezh regional branch of "Opora" NGO and local self-government bodies took part in the event.

The main focus of the discussion was on the Programme for Development of Competition and the Regional Strategy of Economic Growth as well as specificity of market analysis for the purposes of designing and implementing various measures aimed at development of competition.

"Competition development is of principal importance for sustainable economic growth of the Russian Federation. The Programme incorporates a package of antimonopoly measures and is designed to create favourable conditions for development of competition", said Anatoly Golomolzin in his speech, where he also informed the participants about enforcement practice of the antimonopoly authority.

In a presentation "The Market Analysis Procedures for Devising and Implementing Measures towards Competition Development", the Head of the Voronezh OFAS Russia Vladimir Rotmistrov outlined the mechanism and stages of market analysis.

The conference/seminar included a Round Table, where participants discussed the problems related to the agenda and organizational issues of effective implementation of the Regional Programme for Development of Competition in 2010-2012.

Teimuraz Kharitonashvili drew attention to the problems arising in course of market analysis. He pointed out the need to more detailed investigations of each market in order to perform the Programme.

At the conference it was emphasized that active involvement of municipalities and the key Departments of the Government of the Voronezh region are important for effective functioning of the Programme.

Speakers also emphasized that devising the Programme for Development of Competition is one of the most essential step for developing regional economy. As Implementing the Programme will eradicate administrative barriers and create favourable conditions for entrepreneurial activities and, ultimately, for better economic performance.

At the same time, representatives of the Department for Development of Competition of the Ministry of Economic Development stated that the draft Programme for Development of Competition in the Voroneh region is one of the best in Russia and it requires only minor adjustments.

In evaluating the draft programmes, experts focused on the quality of analysis of the key markets, including factors constraining development of competition and entry barriers to various markets of goods and services. Credits were given to the objectives aimed at improving competitive environment. The evaluators also took into account logical connections between market analysis and identified barriers, the objectives set in the Programme and specific measures towards their achievement. Another important criterion was proposed indicators of efficiency of Programme implementation, which should be measurable, reliable, and designed to measure performance.

Among the Programme merits, participants emphasized a good foundation for analysis of the key markets and stimulation of active cooperation with non-government organizations. At the same time, it is necessary to draft a more detailed Action Plan for implementing the Programme for Development of Competition.

Currently the Department of Economic Development is working on the values of efficiency indicators for the regional competition policy and is developing a management mechanism for the Programme for Development of Competition in the Voronezh region in 2010-2012.

As part of the visit, Deputy Head of FAS Russia Anatoly Golomolzin held several working meetings to discuss the issues of developing competitive relations, facing various regional industries.

The FAS Russia's delegation, led by Anatoly Golomolzin, met the officers of the Voronezh OFAS Russia. Representatives of FAS Russia discussed the results achieved by FAS Russia and further priorities of the Antimonopoly Service and answered questions about day-to-day operations of the antimonopoly authority.

"The seminar and working meetings allowed us to study the economic situation in the region as well as discuss problems related to development and implementation of the Programme for Development of Competition in the Voronezh region with representatives of local businesses and outline possible avenues for improvement", said Deputy Head of FAS Russia Anatoly Golomolzin.