The III International Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection is scheduled to be held in Georgia from November 20-22, 2024. The event is being jointly organized 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 three-day event will welcome around 20 delegations from different countries, including leaders of competition and consumer protection authorities, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Directorate General of Competition of the European Commission (DG-COMP), and the Directorate General of Justice and Consumers of the European Commission (DG-JUSTICE). Additionally, senior representative from the Competition Research Network (CEPR) and the Federation of German Consumer Organizations will be present. The conference will include participation from both local and international experts, along with representatives from public and regulatory bodies, academia, and the business sector.
A special panel will be organized with the participation of the heads of five regulatory bodies, where they will present the results, achievements, and challenges in the field of competition and consumer rights protection in Georgia.
The main speaker at the 3rd International Conference will be Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt and Steering Group Chair of the International Competition Network. Other notable speakers include Teresa Moreira, Head of Competition and Consumer Policy (UNCTAD); Cristina Caffarra, Deputy Director of the CEPR Competition Research Network, and Isabelle Perignon, Director Consumers -Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of European Commission along with other distinguished participants.
The conference will include seven sessions and two panel discussions featuring local and international experts. Participants will discuss a range of topics, including concentration control mechanisms, competition enforcement policies in regulated sectors and digital markets, effective consumer protection approaches, standards and trends, best practices for combating cartels, and the management of anti-dumping policies in the Eastern Partnership region.
Additionally, a memorandum signing ceremony will be held to enhance mutual cooperation between agencies focused on the protection of competition and consumer rights.