YEREVAN. – In general, the businessmen who took part in a survey in Armenia gave a negative assessment of the country’s competition sphere and did not see any positive change, Economy and Values Research Center Chairman Manuk Hergnyan said during a press conference held today.

As a result, Armenia continues to occupy lower spots in the Global Competitiveness Report. From 142 countries, Armenia is 139th in “domestic competition power,” 138th in effectiveness of antitrust policies, and 133rd in the presence of dominant groups in the market.     

It is distinctive that, since April 2011, Armenia made substantial changes in its law on the protection of economic competition. Accordingly, powers of the antitrust body are extended and penalties for abuse of dominant position have become harsher. Even though the businessmen respondents of the aforesaid survey have not mentioned any positive change, is conceivable that the reason for this also lies on the fact that the related law was put into effect just recently.