ELIMINATION OF MONOPOLIES IS IMPOSSIBLE IN ARMENIA, MEMBER OF STATE
COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC COMPETITION PROTECTION STATES
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Like in some other countries, it is
impossible to eliminate monopolies in Armenia. Deputy Chairman of
the RA State Commission on Economic Competition Protection Pavel
Ghaltakhchian expressed this opinion at the June 2 conference
“The Competition in Armenia. Expert Discussion”. According to him,
although the formation of monopolies is a negative phenomenon, their
existence in small economies is sometimes inevitable. For example, 90%
of granulated sugar is now imported into the country by one company,
however, even if a granulated sugar plant is built, it will be the
only one and gain a monopoly. That is why the Armenian Commission on
Economic Competition Protection fights against violations committed
by the companies that hold a monopoly rather than against these
companies. P. Ghaltakhchian said that contrary to popular belief,
the existence of oligopolies rather than monopolies is typical of many
Armenian markets. As regards the statement made by Russian businessmen
during their recent visit to Armenia that they are concerned about
the expansion of monopolies in some sectors of the Armenian economy,
P. Ghaltakhchian reassured that such opinions are mainly the result of
certain publications in the press. At the same time he did not rule
out that there might be “hidden” monopolistic economic entities that
run 100% of a market through their subsidiaries or similar enterprises.