Georgia: The meeting between Chairman Lekvinadze of the Georgian Agency for Competition and Consumer Protection (GCCA) and Ambassador Arakeliani of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Georgia was a significant step in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of competition and consumer protection.
An introductory working meeting, held at the Embassy’s initiative, was held in the Agency, where the parties discussed formats of mutual cooperation at the bilateral level.
At the meeting, the GCCA chairman, Irakli Lekvinadze, presented the Agency’s results for 2023 and information about current activities. The meeting focused on the reforms carried out in Georgia regarding the protection of competition and consumer rights, the results achieved, and the essential activities developed in the process of integration with the European Union.
“Competition and consumer protection policy and its effective implementation play an important role in the integration process with the European Union.” The Agency, in coordination with the thematically responsible ministries, actively participates in various action plans in these areas. Competition policy is ten years old, and during this time, several important decisions have been made to strengthen competition policy in Georgia and to form a fair business environment,” Irakli Lekvinadze said at the meeting.
For our organization, both locally and internationally, forming an active dialogue regime with targeted audiences is one of the most strategically important issues. On November 16-18, 2023, the II International Conference “Competition and Consumer Rights” was held in Georgia, organized by five regulatory bodies. More than 300 delegates and delegations from about 20 countries attended the event. The international conference has received significant support and evaluations, both locally and internationally,” Irakli Lekvinadze noted.
At the meeting, the parties agreed to cooperate actively within the scope of their competence. Representatives of the Agency and the Embassy attended the meeting.