PRESS RELEASE

The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Competition Protection conducted round table discussion on “Antimonopoly Policy Effectiveness in Economic Development Processes in Kazakhstan” on February 22, 2010.

The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Competition Protection conducted round table discussion on “Antimonopoly Policy Effectiveness in Economic Development Processes in Kazakhstan” on February 22, 2010. The representatives of public authorities, business, and the USAID international expert attended the round table discussion.     

The Agency’s Chairman, M. Yesenbayev, indicated relevance of the round table topic and emphasized significance of building on a dialogue and expert platform for public authorities and business communities to understand competition policy of the state.     

The Head of the State in his address to the people of Kazakhstan stated a strategic mission: “Kazakhstan should join the 50 states with conducive business climate by 2020”.  

The methods of measuring the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index were explained by the USAID International Expert Ignacio De Leon.   

The Agency’s specialists reported about practical implementation of the “On Competition” Law regulations in the past year.      

The round table attendees emphasized that the Agency should continue to deal with transferring public entities’ minor industries to competition. Thus, the Government is setting up a commission (Agency, Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Justice) which will decide whether public enterprise’s activity is reasonable in a market.      

In addition, the Agency addressed the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan to adopt regulations on uniform comprehension and application of antimonopoly legislation by courts in order to exclude different interpretations of competition law regulations by judicial authorities.     

Due to the Customs Union, the Agency will intensify activity to prevent artificial destabilization of markets regarding products deficit since some sellers may unreasonably increase prices explaining it by the unification of customs duties.    

The Chairman of the Mining and Metal Industry Enterprises Republican Association, N. Radostovets, suggested an agreement conclusion between the antimonopoly authorities of the Customs Union states in order to monitor constantly prices on products and services, and exchange information.

During opinion exchange, the round table participants suggested the legal and statutory acts developed by public authorities which concern interests of entrepreneurs should be coordinated with the Agency, also to submit the information on entities which violated antimonopoly legislation on the Agency’s website.     

The round table participants supported the necessity of conducting such discussions in the regions of the Republic.