The Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA), Irakli Lekvinadze, participated in the international conference entitled “Competition Policy Measures as a Driver of Sustainable Economic Growth in the Context of Global Uncertainty”.
Attending in the capacity of invited speaker, the GCCA Chairman addressed conference participants and presented Georgia's experience in the fields of competition policy, consumer rights protection, and anti-dumping policy.
"Effective competition policy constitutes one of the principal foundations of sustainable economic growth, underpinning the functioning of well-structured markets, fostering innovation, and ensuring the effective protection of consumer interests. The accumulated experience of competition authorities across jurisdictions confirms that robust enforcement frameworks render economies more resilient and adaptable to external pressures, reduce the risk of monopolisation, and contribute to a climate conducive to investment", stated Irakli Lekvinadze.
In his address, the Chairman drew particular attention to the institutional reforms undertaken by the GCCA and the Agency's ongoing process of approximation with international legislative standards. The presentation addressed strategic market monitoring; reforms implemented in the pharmaceutical sector and their outcomes; market studies conducted in the fuel, FMCG, and other key sectors; competition law enforcement practice; consumer protection mechanisms; and the importance of international cooperation in this regard.
The Chairman further highlighted the Agency's international achievements, noting in particular that Georgia will officially assume the ICPEN Presidency with effect from 1 July of this year. The address also underscored the growing significance of artificial intelligence in the enforcement of competition and consumer protection, as well as the need to strengthen strategic market monitoring capacities.
The international forum convened heads of competition authorities from across a range of jurisdictions, alongside representatives of legislative and executive branches of government, international organisations, including UNCTAD, OECD, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as representatives of academic institutions and the business community. Deliberations focused on contemporary challenges in competition policy, the deepening of international cooperation, and the exchange of best practices among jurisdictions, including the role of competition policy in the context of digital transformation and geopolitical challenges.
The conference was hosted by the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
