Press Release

32^nd Methodological Council Session 

January 22, 2010, the 32^nd Methodological Council session of the antimonopoly authority was held at the Agency. The chiefs of the Agency’s territorial divisions and representatives of public authorities and enterprises attended the session.           

The session included the following issues like decisions on applications for economic concentrations, establishment of public enterprises and permission to continue activity, changes in the State Register (the “Register”) of dominant or monopolistic entities. The 2009 performance of the territorial divisions and their tasks for 2010 were reported as well.               

Ten applications from public enterprises for permission to continue activity were discussed at the session. Three applications were delayed due to additional materials revision; another three applications were not permitted to continue activity and they should transfer their occupations to competition beginning from January 1, 2011; two applications were approved to continue activity till December 31, 2010, and public enterprises there should be reorganized into public authorities within the period specified in the article 77 of the “On Competition” Law.       

Additionally, the application from the Ministry of Education and Science of the RK for setting up an affiliate public enterprise under the “National Center of Testing” Republican State Enterprise (RSE) was refused since this RSE is supposed to operate as a public authority. The application from the “Kanysh Satpayev Channel” RSE was approved to continue activity for ensuring hydrotechnical facility operations of the channel which is of strategic significance. Regarding other activities of this RSE, its Regulation should be adjusted in accordance with the “On Public Enterprise” Law.             

As of date January 22, 2010, fifty one percent of the applications submitted were considered out of 5 126 operating public enterprises. Thus, the necessity of active involvement of the Interregional Inspections was indicated regarding transfer of minor occupations of public enterprises to competition.     

Besides, the predictive information on situation in commodity markets regarding joining of Kazakhstan to the Customs Union was submitted at the session. The Customs Union has a positive economic impact including competition enhancement between market entities of three states.    

Thus, the Agency’s Interregional Inspections were assigned to control the situation with prices in the regions especially including food pricing, and they should activate interaction with local executive authorities in order to detect vulnerable markets.