The 4th International Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection is dedicated to World Competition Day, celebrated globally on 5 December. The aim of the conference is to engage with the public in reflecting on the progress achieved and the challenges encountered in the fields of competition and consumer protection, stated Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA), in his opening address.
According to the Chairman of the Agency, the two-day conference brings together approximately 350 delegates, over 50 international speakers, and high-level representatives of prominent international organizations from across the globe.
“Throughout the conference, 10 panel discussions will be held, including a special session focusing on competition and consumer protection in the healthcare sector, featuring the participation of Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia”, stated Irakli Lekvinadze. He further emphasized that the conference hosts delegations from the United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Türkiye, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Azerbaijan. Irakli Lekvinadze expressed his gratitude to the international participants for their contribution and highlighted the importance of their engagement in fostering international dialogue and cooperation in these vital areas. The event was formally inaugurated with welcome addresses delivered by: Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Health, Labour and Social Affairs of Georgia; David Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Shota Berekashvili - Chairperson of the Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Giorgi Dgebuadze, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia and Teresa Moreira , Head of the Competition and Consumer Policy Branch at UNCTAD.
The international conference is organized jointly by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency, the National Bank of Georgia, the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC), the Insurance State Supervision Service of Georgia, and the Communications Commission. The event also features participation from representatives of leading international institutions, including the World Bank, UNCTAD, OECD, ICN, ICPEN, and Consumers International.
Over the course of three days, the conference will host 10 thematic panel discussions, including three international sessions and the presentation of a sectoral study. The discussions will involve representatives from the executive and legislative bodies, public institutions, the academic community, and the business sector.
The conference aims to promote the principles of fair competition and to facilitate the exchange of best international practices in the field of consumer rights protection. This event represents one of the major activities dedicated to World Competition Day, which is celebrated annually on 5 December. For the fifth consecutive year, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency has been actively marking this important date through a series of events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness of competition policy and consumer protection.
