The three-day High-Level International Conference of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), organized by the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) and held in Tbilisi, has concluded.
From 15 to 17 September, the conference brought together nearly 100 representatives of consumer protection authorities from 55 countries. Participants addressed the principal challenges currently facing consumer protection, the risks associated with digital markets, the implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for consumer rights, inter-institutional cooperation, and the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms and international cooperation more broadly.
The conference's closing session was addressed by Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency, who thanked the delegates and presented a summary of the principal outcomes achieved over the three days of deliberations.
"The conference held in Tbilisi has once again confirmed that effective consumer protection in the digital age depends on international cooperation and the exchange of experience. Over the course of these three days, we have not only examined the challenges we hold in common, but have also shared practical tools and innovative approaches capable of reinforcing consumer protection mechanisms.
For Georgia, as the presiding authority of ICPEN, it is of particular importance that we engage in this process not merely as host, but as an active participant and partner. I extend my sincere gratitude to all delegates, international organizations, and partner authorities for their presence in Tbilisi and for their valuable contribution to this important dialogue. Our shared objective remains the establishment of a more effective and trust-based environment for consumer protection in the digital age," stated Chairman Lekvinadze in his address.
In the margins of the conference, the GCCA concluded memoranda of cooperation with the competent authorities of Portugal, Spain, Turkey, South Africa, and Latvia. These agreements provide for deeper cooperation, the exchange of experience and best practice, the sharing of information, and the development of capacities for a coordinated response to consumer needs.
The conference also comprised high-level ICPEN meetings and the presentation of the 2026 Consumer Protection Awards, through which the World Bank Group and ICPEN recognized outstanding, innovative, and effective initiatives in the field of consumer protection.
Georgia holds the presidency of ICPEN for the 2026-2027 term. The Tbilisi conference, convened under the message "Building Trust in the Digital Age," constitutes one of the significant international events undertaken in furtherance of strengthening international and regional cooperation in the field of consumer protection.
