Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on measures on further improving antimonopoly regulation and development of competition on 26 February 2010.

The document was adopted in order to improve anti-monopoly regulation, gradual development of competition climate, strengthen control over activity of natural monopoly enterprises and avoiding unjustified raise of prices, boosting work on financial rehabilitation of insolvent enterprises.

In line with the document, the State Committee on Demonopolization, Support of Competition and Entrepreneurship is reorganized into the State Committee on Demonopolization and Development of Competition.

The document set main tasks of the State Committee on Demonopolization and Development of Competition, among which are:

• Realization of effective anti-monopoly policy, carrying out control over adherence to legislation on limitation of monopoly activity and about natural monopolies;
• Carrying out measures on further improving legal field for developing of competition, avoiding unfair competition in consumer markets and advertisement market (works and services), avoiding illegal actions of the state bodies in places against business entities, protecting interests and rights of consumers;
• Deep analysis of financial-economic situation and competition of economic insolvent enterprises, carrying out function on restructuring and bankruptcy of business entities, representing interest of the state at consideration of issues on restructuring, readjustment and bankruptcy

The committee received right, within its jurisdiction, to issue to state bodies and economic entities mandatory orders on preventing violation of antimonopoly legislation, legislation on natural monopolies, on bankruptcy, protection of consumer rights, on advertisement and their elimination, as well as control over their execution.

The committee can submit suits and applications, participate in court hearings related to implementation and violation of anti-monopoly legislation, legislation on natural monopolies, on bankruptcy, on protection rights of consumers and on advertisement.

The body can also fine business entities and their management, state bodies and local administration in line with acting legislation.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov exempted the State Committee on Demonopolization and Development of Competition and its regional divisions from payment of the state duty on cases, submitted to courts.