The Chairman of the Agency for Competition and Consumer Protection of Georgia, Irakli Lekvinadze, took part in the International Conference organized by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). GCCA, starting on the first of July this year, will officially assume the presidency of ICPEN.
In his speech, Irakli Lekvinadze introduced the agency’s activities to strengthen international cooperation in the field of consumer protection and to respond appropriately to modern digital challenges, and discussed 2 plans.
According to the chairman of GCCA, trust in the modern economy is the most important foundation for the functioning of the market, and that is why the main message of the ICPEN presidency from the organization will be – “Building Trust in the Digital Age”.
“In today’s economy, trust is one of the most important things in how markets work, especially as consumers are increasingly engaged in digital platforms, artificial intelligence systems, and technology that influence their decisions.” “During the GCCA presidency, the focus will be on three primary areas: supporting consumer protection, protecting consumer rights in the era of artificial intelligence and digital markets, and protecting the interests of disabled users, including children, people with disabilities, and other high-risk groups,” the GCCA chairman said.
In addition, during the international event, the session on raising consumer digital awareness and ensuring transparency in marketing practices was moderated by Sergo Sanikidze, Head of GCCA Consumer Rights Department.
At the event, representatives from competition and consumer protection agencies from different countries around the world also discussed important topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector, modern methods of analyzing consumer complaints, combating problematic commercial practices in the online space, and strengthening international consumer protection standards.
Within the framework of the ICPEN presidency, in September 2026, in Tbilisi, in order to further strengthen international cooperation in the sphere of consumer protection, GCCA will host a large-scale international conference, attended by representatives of up to 80 countries.
The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network was founded in 1992. The organization unites more than 80 member countries and leading international organizations.
