Antimonopoly Policy Improvement Center
Antimonopoly Policy Improvement Center (APIC) is a leading think-tank, non-commercial (not-for profit) and independent research institution which focuses in competition, innovation, business (support of entrepreneurship) and consumer policies in Uzbekistan. APIC's slogan mark is "Knowledge for development", which APIC tries to achieve through the results of its products. Members of the staff consists of young and professional specialists from the leading universities of US, UK and other developed countries. It is the first institution in Uzbekistan, which started publishing monthly business activity index (APIC 50) in July 2009, which consists of surveys  from the large and medium-sized companies, representing leading and the most dynamic spheres of Uzbekistan's economy. One of its flagship research products was the study of remittances in Uzbekistan, conducted with the financial assistance of International Development Research Centre of Canada (https://web.archive.org/web/20081209143200/http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11949815321Uzbekistan.pdf) and on innovation policies in Uzbekistan. APIC also conducts due diligence, risk analysis, market studies, nationwide surveys (SPSS), trainings and seminars. APIC was established in August 2003 to increase the practical orientation of researches and to improve the development of normative-legal basis in the sphere of competition, natural monopolies, consumer rights protection, innovation and support  of entrepreneurship. APIC’s other focus areas include analysis of the demonopolization processes and improving competition policy, drafting and providing an expertise on the proposed projects of normative-legal acts, study of the processes of restructuring the administration system in monopolized sectors and development of proposals on creating a sound competitive environment and favorable conditions for small and medium-sized businesses operation in the market. It also closely cooperates with international finance and research institutions such as International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, International Development Research Centre and others. With the purpose of implementation of the objectives set on deepening  economic reforms and demonopolization, improvement of corporate governance structure, creation of competitive environment in the product markets and facilitation of SMEs development, APIC helps the National Competition Authority to conduct analysis of competition in various product markets, assessing the extent to which the competition exists in those markets, the level of their monopolization, market concentration and market entry barriers. Results the work, proposals and recommendations on elimination of barriers for a market entry and development of competition mechanisms in the markets are developed and brought to the notice of appropriate undertakings, ministries and agencies with the purpose of making them  take appropriate measures to improve the current situation. APIC has a history of working with various international financial institutions, particularly with Asian Development Bank (International Law Institute) in 2004-2005 on the project of “Institutional Strengthening of the State Committee of De-monopolization and Competition Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.” Other institutions include technical assistance with Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), German Technical Center (GTZ), and others. International research and development projects. APIC has conducted more than 20 research projects, with 20 publications in national and international academic and professional journals.