On June 26, Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, participated in the session titled “Modern Competition Policy: Challenges and Prospects” held as part of the 4th Eurasian Economic Forum in Minsk, Republic of Belarus. The session brought together representatives of antitrust authorities from EAEU member states and China. The discussion was moderated by Maxim Ermolovich, Member of the Board (Minister) for Competition and Anti-monopoly Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Yermolovich emphasized that the modern era of rapid global transformation — driven by digitalization, the rise of artificial intelligence, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts — has a profound impact on national and regional economies. The emergence of a new global order, he noted, brings both opportunities and challenges, posing serious tests for competition authorities worldwide.
He underlined the importance of drawing on international experience to address these challenges and highlighted the significant expert work carried out by the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre. According to Mr. Yermolovich, the Centre plays a crucial role in introducing advanced antitrust regulatory practices to the post-Soviet space.
In photo, on the screen: Teresa Moreira © Eurasian Economic Forum
Since the onset of the pandemic, competition authorities have played a crucial role in mitigating market disruptions by working closely with governments, sectoral regulators, businesses, and civil society on issues of sustainable development and reducing inequality, noted Teresa Moreira, Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch at UNCTAD.
She emphasized that competition policy has demonstrated its adaptability and can contribute not only to economic efficiency but also to broader social objectives—such as supporting small businesses and protecting vulnerable populations. Moreira also stressed the importance of international coordination, particularly in the digital sector and in the regulation of global food supply chains, which she said require special attention.
In photo, on the screen: Alexey Ivanov © Eurasian Economic Forum
Elaborating on the role of competition, Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Centre, noted that economic competition can be viewed as a substitute for more aggressive forms of interaction between states, helping to prevent severe political confrontation. He echoed Teresa Moreira’s position on the importance of global antitrust cooperation and pointed out that the absence of a unified international competition protection framework — whether under the UN or the WTO — significantly complicates the alignment of rules and principles governing global markets.
Mr. Ivanov stressed that although global governance is increasingly fragmented, globalization processes remain active — and in some areas, are even intensifying — at both economic and fundamental levels.
“The deep interdependence of states makes the severing of economic ties virtually impossible. In this context, it is especially important for antitrust authorities from different countries to coordinate their efforts and develop common principles for economic cooperation and competition,”
said the BRICS Centre Director.
In photo: Andrey Tsyganov © Eurasian Economic Forum
The global nature of today’s economy is increasingly evident, noted Andrey Tsyganov, Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia. He emphasized that not only large corporations but also small and medium-sized enterprises are becoming more integrated into the international division of labor.
“If we lack a competition policy — especially one coordinated at the international level — there will continue to be risks of discrimination, inequality, reduced economic efficiency, and harm to consumers,”
he stressed.
Mr. Tsyganov cited several examples of long-standing and reliable international cooperation in the field of antitrust regulation, including the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Belarusian-Russian Expert Council on Competition Protection and Development, and the Interstate Council for Antimonopoly Policy (ICAP) of the CIS countries, which has been active for over 30 years. He also highlighted the importance of the BRICS partnership, where antitrust cooperation remains a key agenda item at leaders' summits.
At the 16th BRICS Summit in 2024, the Kazan Declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to further expanding and strengthening collaboration on competition law and policy. The declaration also underscored the importance of developing the institutional capacity of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.
In photo, from left to right: Maxim Ermolovich, Artur Karpovich, Andrey Tsyganov © Eurasian Economic Forum
Artur Karpovich, Minister of Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus, highlighted the intersection of antitrust and trade practices in addressing food security challenges. This year, Belarus experienced a shortage of potatoes as producers prioritized exports — where prices were 2.5 to 3 times higher — over fulfilling their obligations to domestic stabilization funds and agreements with retail chains. In response, the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade took an unprecedented step by applying antitrust legislation to the trade law framework in order to protect the domestic market.
In photo: Liu Hui © Eurasian Economic Forum
Liu Hui, Director of the Department at the State Administration for Market Regulation of China (SAMR), has outlined the regulator’s key focus areas in the country’s ongoing antitrust efforts. Priority sectors include housing and public utilities, construction materials manufacturing, the automotive industry, and pharmaceuticals. Consumer rights protection also remains a major area of emphasis. Since 2024, SAMR has been reforming its legal framework and tightening oversight to ensure compliance with fair competition rules. The regulator has also developed a comprehensive action plan for 2025–2030, tailored to China’s unique context — such as its large population and administrative complexity, which includes over 30 provinces and autonomous regions. In addition, SAMR hosts an annual Fair Competition Awareness Week aimed at increasing awareness of fair market practices among businesses and the general public.
In photo, on the screen: Shushan Sargsyan © Eurasian Economic Forum
Shushan Sargsyan, a member of the Member of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition of Armenia, presented a package of reforms aimed at building an effective consumer rights protection system in Armenia. The reforms are part of a broader national effort to strengthen regulatory mechanisms and ensure fair treatment for consumers.
Syrgak Omorov, Deputy Chairman of the Antimonopoly Regulation Service under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, spoke about the agency’s efforts to ensure fair pricing in food markets. He emphasized the importance of maintaining price stability and protecting consumer welfare amid market fluctuations.
Erlan Alzhan, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan, outlined the agency’s strategic priorities. A sixth package of amendments to Kazakhstan’s antitrust legislation has been developed and submitted to the Majilis (lower house of parliament). The proposed changes include stricter price controls in monopolized sectors such as energy, transport, and telecommunications; enhanced investigation procedures; expanded use of preventive measures; the introduction of a class action mechanism; and improvements in market analysis methodology. The initiative aims to boost regulatory effectiveness and foster a more competitive economic environment.
In photo, on the screen: Farrukh Karabaev © Eurasian Economic Forum
Farrukh Karabaev, Deputy Chairman of the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, presented an overview of the measures undertaken by the Committee to improve the country’s competitive environment. Mr. Karabaev drew particular attention to the growing concentration of power in digital markets and the artificial intelligence sector, where computing resources, chip production, and AI training processes are increasingly dominated by a handful of global tech giants.
“We believe that addressing these challenges requires a collective global approach, with antitrust law serving as a universal tool,” Karabaev stated. “The current fragmented efforts by national regulators make it difficult to effectively counter the dominance of major technology companies,”
he added.
The IV Eurasian Economic Forum convened in Minsk (Republic of Belarus) on June 26–27, 2025, coinciding with the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting attended by heads of state of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries. he event was held under Belarus’ 2025 Presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union. TheForum brought together the heads of large, medium and small businesses from the member states and third countries, senior government officials and government representatives of EAEU states, heads of states and government ministers of non-EAEU countries, and delegates from international organizations focused on Eurasian economic cooperation.
