The working visit of the chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, Irakli Lekvinadze, continues in Geneva, where he delivered a speech at the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
In his speech, Irakli Lekvinadze spoke in detail regarding the reforms implemented in the direction of the competition policy from 2014 to the present, the obtained results, challenges and strategically important activities in the future.
“In 2014, the EU, its member states and Georgia signed an Association Agreement (AA), which includes a component of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). In the same year, for the purpose of implementing the competition policy, creating conditions for the development of competition, and protecting the market from anti-competitive actions, an independent Agency - the Georgian Competition Agency was established.
In 2020, the Parliament of Georgia approved amendments to the Law of Georgia on Competition, which is the best example of the process of harmonization of Georgian legislation with European legislation. In 2021, the Law of Georgia on the Introduction of Anti-Dumping Measures in Trade came into force, which aims to protect the local industry from dumping imports. And in 2022, the law on protection of consumer rights came into force, the enforcement of which is entrusted to the National Competition Agency. The functions of the National Competition Agency are expanding, and this process is fully consistent with the process of our country's integration with Europe.
From 2014 to the present day, to improve the competitive environment, the Agency issued over 90 recommendations, including 55 to state authorities/local self-government bodies. More than 40 cases were investigated and up to 15 markets were monitored, and up to 30 approvals for the concentration of undertakings were issued. During the reporting period, 12 litigations ended in favor of the Agency.
Cooperation with international organizations is actively ongoing. Our Agency is an active member of the international competition network ICN, we have significant activity in the work of governmental groups created in the direction of competition of the United Nations and OECD. Since 2014, we have signed memorandums of cooperation with 18 countries, constantly sharing information on best practices.
To strengthen mutual cooperation between countries and authorities, several important events have been scheduled. Among them is Georgia, where the second international conference on competition and consumer rights protection is planned for November 16-18", Irakli Lekvinadze said in his speech and thanked the organizers of the event for their cooperation and support.
Together with the chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency, at the opening session, the following gave a speech: Heads of Competition Authorities of South Korea, USA, Egypt, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal and China. The conference is held on July 3-7 and deals with issues of competition and consumer rights protection. Relevant authorities of the UN member states participate in the event.
Within the framework of the working visit, meetings of the Chairman of the Georgian National Competition Agency and the Heads of International Organizations and Competition Authorities are planned at the bilateral level.
