OREANDA-NEWS. December 09, 2013. Speaking at a Business Forum “Territory of Business – the Territory of Life”, the Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Igor Artemiev, said that unequal conditions for state and private companies were the main root of evil preventing development of small entrepreneurship.

For example, in medicine, private medical institutions, unlike state-run ones, do not receive state subsidies for executing state assignments. In social transportation functions are assigned to state and municipal unitary enterprises, while public companies cannot reach out to these markets. Igor Artemiev proposed to look into possibility to remove excessive barriers for business at the Government Commission on Competition and Development of Small and Medium Business. The Head of FAS also reminded that amendments to the antimonopoly law, drafted by FAS, prohibit establishing state and municipal unitary enterprises on competitive markets.

Igor Artemiev also informed representatives of small business on the coming changes to No.223-FZ Law on procurement by holders of natural monopolies and state-run companies. The Government of Russia approved the amendments under which state companies and holders of natural monopolies must allocate small lots for representatives of small business in procurement for their needs. “The scope of procurement by natural monopolies and state companies is bigger than the entire procurement with the funds from the federal budget. Providing access of small enterprises to such procurement is a good incentive for developing entrepreneurship. It is better than interest credit”, pointed out Igor Artemiev. He reminded that under the law on state and municipal procurement 15% of lots also must be broken down to the benefit of small and medium business.

Igor Artemiev proposed that by law some functions of state companies must be mandatory outsourced, so small and medium companies can fulfill them.

Igor Artemiev also stated that the Government of the Russian Federation assigned a new function to FAS: control over deadlines in construction. FAS will watch whether government officials in construction observe the deadlines for approving documentation and issuing the necessary permits established by the law or administrative regulations. “FAS will consider complaints from businessmen about breaching the deadlines for issuing and approving documents in the construction industry by officials within ten days. Violators that breached the deadlines shall be held administratively liable: 3000 to 5000 RUB for the first violations, 10,000 15,000 RUB – for the second one and court-ordered disqualification for the third violations”, pointed out Igor Artemiev.

“The power of the state must withstand the power of bureaucracy”, thinks Igor Artemiev.

The Head of FAS thanked “OPORA RUSSIA” for supporting the amendments to the antimonopoly law. “The Government of the Russian Federation is at the final stage of considering the amendments and we expect that by the end of the year they will be introduced to the State Duma”, reported Igor Artemiev.