GCCPA Chairman Irakli Lekvinadze presents activity report

Georgia: Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Agency for Competition and Consumer Protection of Georgia (GCCPA), presented the report on the activities of the Agency for Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia for Human Rights and Civil Integration.

Irakli Lekvinadze provided a comprehensive overview of the Agency’s Agency’s significant achievements in strengthening competition policy and protecting consumer rights. He particularly emphasized the successful resolution of several key challenges.

“In 2023, the Agency closed eight investigations, and the topic of 3 agreed actions (cartel) was highlighted – fuel, pharmacy, and online ticket market. Violations were found in all three cases. In 2 investigation cases, recommendations were made to state administrative authorities; unkind competition was confirmed in one case, and in another, the abuse of dominance was not found.

Among last year’s monitors was the market evaluation of insurance product realization in banking institutions, where some risks of competition restriction by the Agency’s evaluation were seen. Therefore, six recommendations were made to the regulator to make the market more transparent and competitive.

Effective control of companies’ concentrations is carried out in a constant mode. Based on the data of the Industrial Register, the concentrations implemented will be verified quarterly, and if there is no notification, the appropriate production will begin. In 2023, we agreed on nine concentration camps”.

According to his explanation, the first case of damping was registered in 2023. After the study began, the importer corrected the prices, which were considered fair by the local industry, and the study was stopped.

“Several important standards have been established for active and effective business in consumer protection. Users received direct benefits up to 500 000 GEL in the direction of consumer rights protection. 11 merchants were fined”, – Irakli Lekvinadze said at the committee hearing.