On 16 September, the second day of the ICPEN High-Level Conference, participants will address international cooperation in the field of consumer protection, the strengthening of institutional capacity, and the enhancement of effective enforcement.
The opening remarks of the event’s official proceedings will be delivered by Levan Kalandadze, Deputy Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency.
In the framework of the conference, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency will conclude memorandum of cooperation with the relevant authorities of several countries. These instruments are founded on the strengthening of international cooperation in the field of consumer rights protection, and are aimed at developing the capacity for the early identification of consumer-related problems and for a coordinated response thereto.
Particular attention on 16 September will be devoted to strengthening practical cooperation in the field of consumer protection, including coordination with public authorities and financial institutions, the exchange of information, and the identification of, and coordinated response to, fraud and practices detrimental to consumers. The panels will further examine the role of external partners- academia, non-governmental organisations, and civil society in consumer education, research, complaint identification, and policy development, as well as in engagement with vulnerable consumers and the advancement of evidence-based enforcement.
Discussions will also be devoted to the practical solutions and experience of relatively new and smaller consumer protection authorities, alongside cooperation with public authorities and financial institutions.
The second day of the conference will conclude with a high-level closed session, in which senior representatives of ICPEN member authorities will consider future strategic priorities in the field of consumer protection, together with means of strengthening international cooperation.
The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency holds the Presidency of ICPEN for the 2026-2027 term, and the main message of the international conference currently under way in Tbilisi is "Building Trust in the Digital Age". The conference has brought together close to 100 delegates from 55 countries.
