The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) has been honored with the presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) for the 2026–2027 term.
The decision, which required the consensus of all member states, was adopted during the ICPEN International Conference, which was held in Washington, D.C., from May 12 to 16.
“This is a significant recognition of both the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency and our country. The adoption of the Law of Georgia on the Protection of Consumer Rights by the Parliament in 2022 laid the foundation for far-reaching reforms. Since then, a series of impactful decisions and standards have transformed business practices and significantly strengthened consumer protection. The GCCA has been an active participant in ICPEN’s working groups, and it is a great honor for us to assume the presidency of this important international network and to welcome our colleagues to Georgia“ - stated Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the GCCA, in his address to the conference.
During its presidency, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) will focus on three strategic priorities in close collaboration with ICPEN member countries: 1. Strengthening international cooperation by promoting the exchange of best practices, supporting the development of global standards, and addressing unfair commercial practices; 2. Enhancing consumer protection in digital markets through improved regulatory mechanisms and oversight; 3. Advancing the capacity of young consumer protection authorities by fostering closer cooperation with more established counterparts.
As President of ICPEN, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) will lead the coordination of the network’s working groups, oversee the development of discussion topics aligned with the strategic agenda, contribute to the advancement of global consumer protection standards, and host an international conference with the participation of ICPEN member states.
ICPEN brings together consumer protection authorities from nearly 90 countries across the globe. The network includes members, partners, and observers—among them prominent international organizations such as the World Bank, UNCTAD, the OECD, and the European Commission. The GCCA became a full member of ICPEN in 2023. Since 2022, the presidency of the network has been held by consumer protection authorities from Australia, Poland, and the United States. (More information: https://icpen.org/who-we-are)
