The Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has initiated discussions on the draft “Competition Code”.

The draft Competition Code is being reviewed within the framework of the working group of the Commission operating under the Action Plan for the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 2, 2017. This decree supplements the Presidential Decree of July 13, 2016, on “Additional Measures to Improve the Business Environment in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Further Enhance the Country’s Position in International Rankings.”

To support the submission of proposals, CAERC has received technical assistance under the EU TAIEX program, and extensive discussions on the draft Competition Code are being held with the participation of foreign experts and members of the working group.

It should be noted that in the Strategic Roadmap for the Production of Consumer Goods by Small and Medium Enterprises in the Republic of Azerbaijan, improving the competition environment is identified as one of the priority areas, and the adoption of the Competition Code is set as a key objective.

During the working group discussions, CAERC macroeconomist Faiq Gasimli stated that the new draft reflects key principles such as: the implementation of entrepreneurial activity based on free economic competition, fair pricing, broad choice of goods and services, price formation through free interaction of supply and demand in the market, limited state interference in competitive markets, and the development and protection of economic competition in the public interest. The draft also provides extensive coverage of issues such as restriction of competition, market concentration, obligations, and sanctions.

Experts participating in the discussions on the Competition Code have been involved under the EU TAIEX project “Supporting CAERC in Competition Legislation, Institutional, and Economic Reforms.” The current group of foreign experts at CAERC is led by Filip Brusik, with Valentin Derevyankin and Markus Handel also contributing to the project.