On December 5, World Competition Day is celebrated with various activities in more than 30 countries, which the Georgian National Competition Agency joins for the third year in the format of an international conference.
"In Georgia, the enforcement of competition and consumer rights protection policy is becoming stronger, as demonstrated by increased compliance and the outcomes of Agency decisions." The most significant competition policy reforms have been adopted since 2014. In particular, as a result of the amendments made to the Law of Georgia on Competition,
Georgia now has legislation that corresponds to the DCFTA criteria and is comparable to European Union norms. From 2021, the Agency will be entrusted with implementing the "Law on the Introduction of Anti-Dumping Measures in Trade", and the "Law of Georgia on the Protection of Consumer Rights" beginning in November 2022. The National Competition Agency's mandate is expanding in line with Georgia's integration into Europe. As per the latest legislative changes, the Agency will be rebranded as "Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency" from 2024.
From 2014 to the present, 94 recommendations were issued to improve the competitive environment, including 61 in the direction of state bodies/local self-government bodies. Completed 47 case studies and 12 market monitoring with specific results, 31 approvals for the concentration of undertakings were issued during the same time period.
Our Agency is actively cooperating with international organizations. 24 international memoranda were signed in 2014-2023. The Agency is an active member of the International Competition Network ICN, and in 2023 we became a partner of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). Furthermore, we work closely with representatives of UNCTAD, OECD, USAID.
On November 16-18 of this year, the II International Conference "Competition and Consumer Protection" was held in Georgia and was organized with the joint cooperation of five Regulatory Authorities – the Georgian National Competition Agency, the National Bank of Georgia, the National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission of Georgia, the Communications Commission and the State Insurance Supervision Service of Georgia. The event was attended by more than 300 delegates from 20 countries. The delegation was present. The international conference received significant support and evaluations both at the local and international levels. The conference received high evaluations at both the local and international level.
On World Competition Day, I would like to congratulate the National Competition Agency employees and the Georgian society, who have been engaged at various periods and are still involved in the implementation of competition policy. For their assistance and collaboration, I would like to thank local and international organizations, business and academic circles, public and non-governmental sector representatives, media and donor organizations, government and parliamentary teams, and partner regulatory bodies.
I congratulate everyone on the World Competition Day!" - Chairman of the National Georgian National Competition Agency, Irakli Lekvinadze.
