OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2010. Belarus considers reforming state monopolies in agribusiness, energy, telecommunications, housing and municipal services and the media with a view to promoting competition, increasing efficiency, and reducing prices. The country has drafted an action plan for 2010 to improve its investment climate.

The document is being reviewed by relevant authorities, and a special strategy will be worked out by October 2010 to implement it.

Furthermore, it is planned to work out a complex of measures to restrain monopolistic activities both at the national and regional levels, including amendments to the instruction on identification of economic entities that have a dominating position on commodity markets.

It is planned to give more powers to the antitrust body and increase its independence, and identify the areas within natural monopolies to promote a competitive environment and isolate infrastructures. It is proposed to enhance the transparency of corporations: prices, tariffs, salaries and bonuses of top managers, transactions and performance must be publicized.