A meeting was held with the delegation of the Retail Networks Development Union at the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control.

At the meeting, prospects for cooperation were discussed in the areas of developing state–private dialogue, promoting a healthy competitive environment, increasing transparency in the trade sector and protecting consumer rights.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of the Service, Elnur Baghirov, provided information about measures being implemented to develop competition policy in the country, form a fair trade environment and protect consumer interests. He emphasised the importance of strengthening the fight against unfair competition and of adherence to transparent operating principles among market participants.

Araz Imanov, Chairman of the Board of the Retail Networks Development Union, noted in his speech that forming a healthy competitive environment in the retail sector, promoting transparent market relations and strengthening consumer trust are of particular importance for the sustainable development of the sector. He stated that the Union attaches great importance to institutional cooperation with state institutions in this direction.

During the meeting, an exchange of views was held on supporting the activities of trade networks of various sizes, involving local producers more widely in trade turnover, applying technical regulations for non-food products, as well as issues frequently encountered in consumer complaints.

In the end, the parties agreed on strengthening mutual trust in the trade sector, implementing joint awareness initiatives for business and consumers, as well as further expanding cooperation in the future.