Khankendi:The 61st meeting of the Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) took place in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. This event was organized by the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The primary goal was to enhance cooperation among the competition authorities of CIS member states and to facilitate the exchange of experience in applying competition legislation.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the participants discussed several critical issues, including the implementation of competition legislation, current market challenges, and further development of cooperation among CIS member states. Key speeches were delivered by Elnur Baghirov, Chairman of the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control; Aleksandr Yakovchits, Belarusian Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade; and Denis Trefilov, Deputy Secretary General of the CIS. Officials from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia also contributed with reports.
The discussions highlighted recent developments in competition policy across the CIS countries, stressing the importance of sharing experiences and coordinating responses to challenges arising from digitalization, artificial intelligence, cross-border business activities, and global supply chains. Furthermore, the meeting reviewed the implementation of previous decisions, the work of the joint task force investigating antimonopoly violations, and the prospects for expanding cooperation among member states.
Participants concluded the meeting with a decision for Kazakhstan to assume the Council’s next chairmanship, with the 62nd meeting scheduled to be held in Kyrgyzstan. The Council, established under the Agreement on the Implementation of Antimonopoly Policy signed on December 23, 1993, coordinates competition policy, promotes cooperation on antimonopoly legislation, and develops common approaches to protecting competition among CIS member states. Azerbaijan is represented by the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control, while Belarus currently holds the chairmanship.