site.btaSectoral Analysis Reveals Fundamental Problems and Enables Comprehensive Solutions – Competition Watchdog Chair

The structural problems in the economy and in individual sectors are so serious that the Commission must analyze the basic processes within them, said the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) chair Rosen Karadimov on Friday during a public discussion on a CPC’s interim report after a sectoral analysis of the retail market for agricultural and fast-moving consumer goods.

According to him, the sectoral analysis makes it possible to track the entire chain - from production, through processing, to trade. Karadimov noted that although the public sees “the tip of the iceberg,” the problems often lie much deeper, and if they are not addressed comprehensively, the competitive environment cannot be restored in a way that allows the sector to function normally. He said that some of the distortions are the result of “many years of ill-considered privatization” and insufficiently thought-out policies.

Karadimov stressed that the consultation ensures the necessary synergy between producers, processors, traders, and state institutions. He added that the analysis serves two main functions — the first, more ambitious one, is to identify the problems and formulate recommendations that will be sent to all responsible institutions. The second function is to provide a sufficient basis on which the CPC can exercise its legal powers.

Karadimov underscored that the Commission does not aim to begin by applying enforcement measures, but rather to encourage dialogue, regulation through self-regulation, and a balance of interests in the sector. “The Commission is fully prepared, based on the information collected, to exercise all of its powers. Our intention is to act as a regulator through dialogue and by respecting the interests of every economic operator,” he stated.