OREANDA-NEWS. April 22, 2010. "Competition is one the driving forces of the economy", began his speech Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Andrey Tsyganov, opening XVII Annual Research Conference of the New Economic School (NES), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Andrey Tsyganov gave the keynote address "Competition Development in the Russian Federation", where he described the main fields of the FAS Russia's activities to undergraduates and postgraduate students, and lecturers of NES, explained the functions, scope of reference, goals and objectives of the antimonopoly bodies and requirements of the federal laws enforced by the Antimonopoly Service.

Deputy Head of FAS Russia told about recent modernization of the antimonopoly law in Russia, highlighted the main aspects of improving state procurement legislation, FAS Russia's struggle against bid-rigging collusions, employment of the antimonopoly law to revealed facts of unfair competition. Mr. Tsyganov also informed about the conditions and restrictions for access of foreign producers to state procurement tenders in Russia, and the procedures for control over economic concentration and foreign investments.

Mr. Tsyganov pointed out that FAS Russia is directly involved in the work on reforming natural monopolies. These reforms are designed to transition from the obsolete system of government regulation of pricing and financial policy in such sectors of the economy to market mechanisms of developing competition and achieving the balance of interests between producers and consumers.

Deputy Head of FAS Russia also emphasized the need to ensure pro-competitive character of reforms of natural monopolies and assigning to all government agencies the objective of creating conditions for development of competition and demonopolization of the economy.

Mr. Tsyganov paid special attention to another topmost area of the FAS Russia's activities - control over the authorities. "This is a priority in our work. Stimulating competition is and will be the key line of our economic policy, and the essential factor of national economic modernization", concluded Andrey Tsyganov.

After the keynote address, the speaker gave answers and explanations to numerous questions. The audience was particular interested in antimonopoly enforcement practice as well as FAS Russia's work on assessing the impact of government regulation upon the state of competition on the markets of the Russian Federation.

"I am convinced that the goal of competition policy is to ensure entry of new companies and new products to the market. As a result, consumers benefit from quality enhancements and price reductions. Healthy competitive environment is a condition for building efficient and economic system", drew a line Deputy Head of FAS Russia Andrey Tsyganov.