On November 20, the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Competition Policy Enforcement and Consumer Protection took place. This marks the third time the conference is being held in Tbilisi, organized collaboratively by the Competition and Consumer Agency, the National Bank of Georgia, the National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission of Georgia, the Communications Commission and the State Insurance Supervision Service of Georgia. The conference has brought together delegations from up to 15 different countries.

The III International Conference commenced with an opening address by the Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA), Irakli Lekvinadze. "In Georgia, between 2020 and 2023, significant improvements were made to competition legislation, including the introduction of anti-dumping and consumer protection enforcement measures. These developments are reflected in the growing public trust and the enhanced competitive environment across various markets. In 2024, the European Commission’s Enlargement Report highlighted the significant strengthening of law enforcement mechanisms by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA). Assessments conducted by experts from the EU Twinning Project revealed remarkable progress: over the past two years, the compliance of Georgia’s competition legislation with European standards increased from 60% to 75%, while the alignment of consumer protection legislation improved from 70% to 85%.

The economy and business environment in Georgia are developing dynamically, with increasing digitization of processes. Our agency is committed to addressing these challenges effectively. Our priorities include ensuring a fair market environment and competitive pricing, building greater trust and maximizing public awareness to prevent potential violations. Additionally, we aim to improve the legislative and regulatory framework while fostering best practices in the fields of competition and consumer rights protection." - stated GCCA Chairman Irakli Lekvinadze during his speech.

According to Irakli Lekvinadze, the international conference was established in 2021 at the initiative of five regulatory bodies and is now in its third year. "I believe this platform plays a vital role in shaping a strong and effective competition and consumer rights policy in Georgia. We are proud that Tbilisi has joined the ranks of cities worldwide where in-depth discussions on competition and consumer rights issues take place annually," he remarked.

The event commenced with opening remarks delivered by distinguished speakers who addressed the participants: Mikheil Sarjveladze  Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia; David Songulashvili, Chairman of the Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Maka Botchorishvili Chair of the EU Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, Steering Group Chair of the International Competition Network.

According to Andreas Mundt, the III international conference serves as an invaluable platform, uniting competition and consumer protection experts from around the world to exchange knowledge and experiences in their fields. He highlighted, The Bundeskartellamt and the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency share a long-standing partnership. It is immensely gratifying to observe the rapid development of the agency since its establishment in 2014 and the notable successes it has achieved in its work.

Taking place from November 20 to 22, the conference program includes six working sessions and two panel discussions, bringing together both local and international experts. Topics will cover activities in competition and consumer protection, addressing challenges, achievements, and best practices at both the local and global levels. Representatives from major international organizations such as ICN, UNCTAD, OECD, EU DG COMP, and EU DG JUSTICE will participate, alongside local stakeholders. 

The event features more than 50 distinguished speakers, and welcome over 300 delegates.