The 3rd International Consumer Protection Week was officially inaugurated with an opening event organized by the Competition and Consumer Agency, the State Insurance Supervision Service of Georgia, the National Bank of Georgia, the Communications Commission, the National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission of Georgia and the National Food Agency.
The Chairman of the GCCA, Irakli Lekvinadze, opened the event and addressed the participants. “In 2024, Georgia launched its first National Consumer Rights Protection Strategy, supported by the Government of Georgia. This strategy outlines joint initiatives among six regulatory agencies through 2027, with the goal of safeguarding consumer interests both individually and collectively. By fostering collaboration at the national level, we aim to strengthen consumer rights protection, ensuring greater guarantees and more effective enforcement.
According to the international achievements, it is important to highlight the 2024 award presented by the World Bank Group and ICPEN to the Agency for its high standards in consumer rights protection and enforcement. Georgia was recognized as one of the top three executive agencies among leading countries and was named the winner in the category for effective handling of consumer applications and resolving issues in consumers' interests"- said Irakli Lekvinadze in his speech.
In his speech, Irakli Lekvinadze emphasized Georgia’s significant progress in consumer protection, as recognized in the 2024 European Commission enlargement report. He noted that a substantial portion of the Commission’s recommendations has already been implemented, and the country now possesses a strong institutional framework and legislative foundation aligned with EU standards.
“According to experts from the EU-funded TWINNING project, the alignment of Georgian consumer protection legislation with the directives outlined in the EU Association Agreement has increased from 70% to 85%.
Furthermore, in 2024, the Law of Georgia on Electronic Commerce came into effect. That same year, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Swedish Government, the Agency initiated a new e-commerce project, with active working meetings currently in progress.
To enhance public awareness, the Consumer Rights Protection Department has developed a guideline document outlining key recommendations and activities for various target groups. In the education sector, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, information sessions are actively being conducted, leading to tangible outcomes. Additionally, to promote price transparency in business-consumer relations and ensure the proper functioning of the market, a guideline on price indication for goods and services has been created. This guideline, along with other important documents, is being presented at our event today.
As part of the III International Week, one of our key messages and objectives this year is to empower people with disabilities, ensure equal access to information, and foster an inclusive environment.
I would like to express my gratitude to the representatives of our Agencies for their dedicated work. Thank you to every citizen who reached out to us, as the standards we’ve established and the decisions we’ve made are a direct result of your involvement. I also want to thank the representatives of all six regulatory authorities for their support and engagement, as well as the government and parliamentary teams, our international colleagues, and the business and non-governmental sectors. A special thank you to the members of the Georgian Union of the Deaf and the Union of the Blind, who are with us today" - said Irakli Lekvinadze during the event's opening.
He also highlighted that in 2024, more than 600,000 GEL was refunded to consumers. The number of consumer appeals has doubled compared to 2023, with over 90% of cases resolved in favor of the consumer.
The week’s opening event took place on March 10 at the Pullman Hotel in Tbilisi, where representatives of regulatory bodies responsible for consumer rights protection discussed results, challenges, and enforcement mechanisms. As part of the week’s activities, working and informational meetings with consumers will be held in Akhalkalaki on March 12, Zugdidi on March 14, and Batumi on March 15.
