On 14 September, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA), in its capacity as the Presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) for 2026-2027, held the welcome event for the High-Level International ICPEN Conference in Tbilisi.
Delegates were addressed by the Chairman of the GCCA, Irakli Lekvinadze, who focused his remarks on the importance of strengthening international cooperation in consumer protection, developing effective mechanisms in light of contemporary digital challenges, and building trust in the digital era.
"I was pleased that the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency was hosting this important international conference. This gathering afforded us the opportunity to share the experience of different countries, to reflect together on the contemporary challenges facing consumer protection, and to further strengthen international cooperation.
At that time, as digital technologies were rapidly reshaping consumers' everyday lives, ensuring trust, transparency and a fair digital environment had acquired particular importance. It was for this reason that the conference's main message “Building Trust in the Digital Age” was especially topical".
The event brought together high-ranking representatives of the Government of Georgia, the Parliament, the executive and local authorities, international organisations and consumer protection authorities from various countries.
Remarks were delivered by Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of Administration of the Government of Georgia; Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs; David Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Paata Salia, Minister of Justice of Georgia; Natia Turnava, President of the National Bank of Georgia and Shota Berekashvili, Chairman of the Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.
International partners were represented by Rémi Lang, Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch at UNCTAD; Emma Cochrane, Executive Director for Consumer Protection at the UK Competition and Markets Authority; Christopher Johansson, Deputy Director-General of the Swedish Consumer Agency and Antonio Mancini, Senior Expert at the Italian Competition Authority, among others.
The welcome event was held at the National Youth Palace, a building of particular symbolic significance, having hosted the declaration of Georgia's independence on 26 May 1918 and the adoption of the country's first Constitution in 1921.
The main theme of the conference convened in Tbilisi was 'Building Trust in the Digital Age”. Within its framework, close to one hundred delegates from fifty-five countries considered contemporary challenges in consumer protection, the strengthening of international cooperation, and effective enforcement mechanisms.
Following the welcome event of 14 September, the High-Level International ICPEN Conference was officially opened in Tbilisi on 15 September. The conference's main working programm ran from 15 to 17 September, comprising thematic panel sessions, high-level meetings and working sessions.
