Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – A draft presidential decree "On the main goals and objectives of state policy for the development of competition" was developed in Kazakhstan.

The stated goal is to pursue a proactive competition policy as a priority area for all government bodies, from the president to local executive bodies.

Among the key tasks, the document envisages: a) increasing the competitiveness and economic efficiency of business entities; b) observance of the rights and interests of consumers; c) achieving sustainable competitive advantages in world and regional markets; d) ensuring customer satisfaction.

To solve these problems, the following measures have been identified: 1) reduction of administrative barriers; 2) state support for entrepreneurship and investment; 3) reducing the share of entities with state participation and increasing the efficiency of state assets management; 4) expansion of exchange trading and other transparent pricing mechanisms; 5) ensuring equal access of business entities to state support measures.

According to experts, one of the main barriers to the development of the country’s economy is the presence of monopolies, administrative interference, as well as the frequent use of non-market mechanisms.

In particular, according to the Antimonopoly Service of Kazakhstan, currently 4 main players account for 89% of the coal market, 67% of electricity production, 73% of sales of petroleum products, 95% of commercial gas. In this regard, over 90% of the volume of coal on the exchange is sold formally (without shipping and payment operations) to an unchanging circle of suppliers who set markups up to 100%.

At the same time, entry into the market of petroleum products and liquefied gas for new entrepreneurs is excluded without agreements with resource-holding monopolies. As a result, 95% of goods in these markets are sold under direct contracts of affiliated suppliers.

In addition, in 14 regions of the country, power supply organizations and stations are included in one group of companies. As a result, the company affiliated with the station is not interested in finding a cheaper energy source.

In general, as experts conclude, K. Tokayev intends to radically reform the competition market by eradicating monopolists and using the "administrative resource", which will give a significant impetus to economic growth in a crisis.