Georgian Competition
and Consumer
Agency

Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, and John Braeckeveldt, Chairman of the European Business Association, held a working meeting. The parties discussed current and planned issues in the field of competition at the bilateral level and the need to deepen ties.

Since the European Business Association actively cooperated with the Agency on amendments to the competition law, the parties discussed in detail the activities carried out in this direction, current challenges, and effective mechanisms for cooperation with all stakeholders, including business entities. The meeting focused on future perspectives and directions for improving the strategy of cooperation between the agencies. Irakli Lekvinadze thanked John Braeckeveldt for his support, for initiating the meeting, and expressed readiness to be involved in the projects initiated by the European Business Association, including the Young Entrepreneurs Support Platform.

"We know that in 2020, significant amendments were made in the Law of Georgia on Competition. Procedural norms have been refined, forms of cooperation between the Competition Agency and regulators have been established under the DCFTA, and effective mechanisms for merger controls have been established. The issue of structural, collegial arrangement of the agency is in the process of elaboration. We also know that the Public Procurement-related Dispute Resolution Council and its staff, which functions as a completely independent body, started operating under the structure of the Agency. In 2021, the Agency will start enforcing anti-dumping legislation, for which preparatory work is underway. The draft was prepared following the principles and norms of the World Trade Organization, is a novelty for the Georgian reality and, I think, is one of the most important legislative acts that we have adopted in the recent period. Therefore, sharing European approaches, supporting, receiving recommendations, and active involvement of international and local counterpart agencies is important for our agency. I think that the initiatives proposed by you, the meetings with the members of the European Business Association in the format of dialogue, as well as the improvement of the mechanisms of cooperation with the representatives of the Youth Platform of the Association will be mutually interesting and important, " – said Irakli Lekvinadze.

"The mission of the European Business Association is to promote trade and investment between Georgia and Europe, and I think this is possible only in conditions of healthy competition. In this regard, the process of approximation of Georgian legislation with the EU legislation, including the forms of cooperation between the Competition Agency and regulatory bodies, is very important. During today's meeting, the news and activities of the agency and our association were introduced to each other. We also discussed plans and we are pleased that the Competition Agency has expressed its willingness and readiness to participate in meetings with members of the Association, supported our initiatives and we continue to work actively, "- said John Braeckeveldt.

The meeting was also attended by Levan Kalandadze, First Deputy Chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, and Nino Ushikishvili, Head of Law and Policy direction of the European Business Association.